Monitoring your baby's heartrate during labour

Monitoring your baby's heartrate during labour.

During labour, you will be offered fetal monitoring as a way of checking the baby's wellbeing.

There are 2 main methods used: Cardiotocograph (CTG or continuous monitoring), sometimes called NST in other countries, or intermittent auscultation using a hand held electronic doppler or pinard.

In the UK, guidelines recommend that those with straightforward pregnancies and uncomplicated labours should be offered fetal monitoring intermittently every 15 minutes once in established labour. During this, both yours and Baby's heartrates are heard throughout and after a contraction. This allows you to mobilise freely and even go for a short walk around the unit if you want.

Continuous monitoring involves having 2 pads strapped to your abdomen. One traces the baby's heartrate and the other traces your contractions. Once this prints out, care providers can then interpret the chart and check to make sure baby is coping well.

Continuous monitoring is usually only used if there is an indication to do so, ie if you have a high risk pregnancy or labour. Evidence suggests that routine use of CTG monitoring straightforward pregnancy has no impact on improving perinatal outcomes. In other words, its seldom necessary and in fact being able to move around in labour is more likely to be more beneficial.

Some reasons for recommending CTG include: . -Induction of labour -Meconium in the amniotic fluid -Epidural -Bleeding during labour -Twin pregnancy -Preterm labour -Pre eclampsia -Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) -Abnormal heart rate heard on intermittent auscultation -Reduced fetal movements

If you have a complex pregnancy or labour and it's recommended you have continuous monitoring, you dont have to neccessarily lay strapped on the bed. You can always ask if they have wireless telemetry monitors so that you can mobilise, or if not, sit on a birthing ball or chair next to the bed. This will help labour progress easier and will most likely be more comfortable for you!

What are your experiences with being monitored in labour . . . . . . . . #midwife #obgyn #childbirth #labour #pregnancy