Which symptom would indicate the need to decrease oxytocin dosage in a client receiving it to augment labor?

Fetal tachycardia is a significant indicator that may warrant a decrease in the dosage of oxytocin during labor augmentation. This symptom, characterized by a fetal heart rate greater than 160 beats per minute, can suggest fetal distress or an adverse response to uterine hyperstimulation caused by excessive oxytocin. When there is fetal tachycardia, it can indicate that the fetus is not receiving adequate oxygenation, possibly due to insufficient placental perfusion or prolonged pressure from frequent uterine contractions. Therefore, reducing the oxytocin dosage can help alleviate these symptoms and promote a healthier environment for the fetus.

In contrast, while maternal hypertension and increased heart rate could indicate maternal distress, they do not directly correlate to the need for adjusting oxytocin dosage in the same manner as fetal tachycardia. Frequent uterine contractions, depending on their frequency and intensity, may also suggest over-medication but are more directly of concern if they lead to fetal heart rate changes such as tachycardia. Thus, fetal tachycardia serves as a more critical and immediate reason to evaluate and modify oxytocin infusion.