In which situation is it most crucial to monitor fetal health closely?

Monitoring fetal health closely is most crucial when the mother has a history of herpes outbreaks near delivery. In this situation, the risk of transmitting herpes to the newborn during labor and delivery increases significantly if active lesions are present. Neonatal herpes can lead to serious complications for the infant, including severe illness or even death. Therefore, it is essential to closely monitor both the mother's condition and the status of any herpes lesions to ensure appropriate management and intervention can occur if necessary.

In contrast, while maternal anxiety, normal weight gain, or the absence of pregnancy complications are important aspects of prenatal care, they do not carry the same level of immediate risk to fetal health as a history of herpes outbreaks. Besides, anxiety can often be addressed through support and education, and normal weight gain typically indicates a healthy pregnancy, without specific alarming implications for fetal health. Monitoring is still important across various situations, but the history of herpes necessitates more vigilant observation to protect the newborn's health.