What is the purpose of initiating contractions in a contraction stress test (CST)?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The purpose of initiating contractions in a contraction stress test (CST) is to apply a stressful stimulus to the fetus to assess its response to stress, mimicking the stress of labor. This helps evaluate fetal well-being by monitoring the fetal heart rate during contractions. A: Increasing placental blood flow is not the primary purpose of CST. B: Identifying fetal acceleration patterns is not the main goal of CST. C: Determining the degree of fetal activity is not the primary objective of CST. The correct answer is D as it reflects the main purpose of initiating contractions in a CST.