Maternal and newborn
VEAL CHOP
Variable–Cord, Early–Head, Acceleration–OK, Late–Placental
A two-column memory aid pairing each pattern of fetal heart rate change with the cause it is classically associated with. VEAL are the patterns, CHOP are the causes, read across.
What each letter stands for
- 1 Variable deceleration → Cord compression.
- 2 Early deceleration → Head compression.
- 3 Acceleration → OK, a reassuring finding.
- 4 Late deceleration → Placental insufficiency.
How it gets tested
A matching item, and one of the most heavily drilled mnemonics in maternal-newborn coursework. The letters only work when the two words are read as a pair.
Related terms
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