What can cause an increase in fetal heart rate?

An increase in fetal heart rate can often be attributed to various external factors, one of which is noise exposure. When the fetus is exposed to loud noises, it may react with an increase in heart rate as part of its response to the stimuli. This can be considered a normal physiological response as the fetus processes environmental sounds, especially if they are sudden or loud.

Other factors influencing fetal heart rate do include maternal activity or stress levels, but in this context, noise exposure is particularly notable because it represents an external stimulus that can directly influence fetal vitality. Understanding how the fetus responds to environmental changes is crucial in fetal monitoring to ensure adequate assessments of its well-being.