True or False: Late decelerations are characterized by an abrupt drop in fetal heart rate.

Late decelerations are not characterized by an abrupt drop in fetal heart rate; instead, they are typically gradual decreases that begin after a contraction and return to the baseline after the contraction has completed. This pattern indicates that the fetus may be experiencing some degree of hypoxia, often due to uteroplacental insufficiency. The key element of late decelerations is their timing in relation to contractions, as they occur later than the peak of the contraction, contrasting sharply with early decelerations, which mirror the contraction's timing. Understanding this distinction is crucial for interpreting fetal heart rate patterns correctly and assessing fetal well-being during labor.