What condition may fetal tachycardia be associated with?

Fetal tachycardia, defined as a fetal heart rate greater than 160 beats per minute, can be associated with several conditions. One key association is fetal immaturity. In the context of premature infants or those that are not fully developed, the immature autonomic nervous system can lead to an increased heart rate. This is particularly relevant in preterm infants whose physiology may not yet be fully adapted to maintain a normal heart rate under stress.

While fetal tachycardia can indeed be linked to other factors, maternal fever is more directly related to increased fetal heart rates due to infection or inflammatory responses, and fetal maturity typically corresponds with more stable heart rates. Decreased uterine activity may not have a direct causative effect on increased fetal heart rates, making fetal immaturity the more relevant condition associated with fetal tachycardia in this scenario.