Variable decelerations indicate umbilical cord compression that can occur due to maternal and fetal positioning. Repositioning the mother can cause the fetus to change position, which may reduce the pressure on the cord. If this noninvasive and relatively simple intervention does not improve the fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing, more invasive methods such as fluid replacement and oxygen administration may be indicated. Variable decelerations are not indicative of moderate baseline variability.