Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract–Based NCC C-EFM References:

The tracing demonstrates:

Baseline: approx. 140 bpm

Variability: minimal-to-moderate (fluctuating but not consistently moderate)

Decelerations: shallow variable decelerations

Accelerations: not consistently present

According to NICHD/NCC definitions:

Category I requires ALL of the following:

Baseline 110–160

Moderate variability

No late or variable decelerations

Early decels and accelerations may be present

This tracing does not have consistently moderate variability and does have variable decelerations, so it is not Category I.

Category III requires ANY of the following:

Absent variability with recurrent late decels

Absent variability with recurrent variable decels

Absent variability with bradycardia

Sinusoidal pattern

This tracing does not show absent variability, bradycardia, or recurrent significant lates.

Category II includes:

Minimal variability

Absence of accelerations

Variable decelerations

Tracings not clearly Category I or III

This strip fits Category II exactly due to minimal variability + intermittent variable decelerations.

Thus, the correct classification is Category II.