Fetal Monitoring During Labor
If you’ve started to do your research on what to expect in labor, you might have seen or come across the term fetal monitoring. Fetal monitors are strategically used on the mother in areas that can help monitor the baby’s condition (usually their heart rate and movements) through sound waves.
What is fetal monitoring?
Fetal monitoring is the process by which your midwife utilizes a device to monitor the baby’s heart rate and rhythm. This information helps your healthcare provider get a good idea of your baby’s condition.
There are two types of fetal monitoring; external and internal. The external type involves placing a transducer on the mother’s belly and keeping it in place using an elastic band. The transducer uses sound waves to record information such as the baby’s heart rate and its variation.
Internal type of fetal monitoring can only be done after the amniotic sac has broken and the cervix is open. Then your healthcare provider can place an electrode on your baby’s scalp through your cervix. However, it should be pointed out that this method is rare and not employed at birth centers.
Should fetal monitoring be continuous during labor?
Continuous fetal monitoring is only required in high-risk pregnancies or conditions where the baby’s condition isn’t optimal and requires continuous surveillance.
For normal pregnancies, healthcare providers usually do a 30-40 minute prenatal monitoring session to get an idea of the baby’s condition. A good monitoring pattern indicates a healthy baby that doesn’t require constant monitoring. They may repeat the monitoring later when indicated.
What does intermittent fetal monitoring entail?
Intermittent fetal monitoring is when a healthcare provider uses a hand device such as a Pinard fetoscope or a sonic kit to listen to your baby’s heart rate once in a while during labor. It is mostly done after 15-30 minutes during initial labor and then more often during subsequent stages of labor.
Why would I need continuous electronic fetal monitoring?
Continuous fetal monitoring is usually not indicated unless the mother has risk factors that affect her or the baby. These risk factors include:
- Leakage of meconium
- Maternal fever
- Vaginal bleeding
- Slow or fast fetal heartbeat on intermittent monitoring
- History of high blood pressure in the mother
- High or low blood sugar levels in the mother
To learn more about fetal monitoring and how we handle monitoring during labor, ask at your next appointment, and we will be happy to go over the process for you and discuss what is best for you and your baby.