Learning About Electronic Fetal Monitoring
What is electronic fetal monitoring?
Electronic fetal monitoring keeps track of the heart rate of your baby (fetus). It also shows how long and how strong your contractions are. It is done during pregnancy, labour, and birth.
This type of monitoring helps your doctor or midwife see if your baby is healthy or is having any problems. It may help your doctor or midwife find the best way and time to deliver your baby.
The monitoring can be external or internal. External monitoring can be done after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Internal monitoring is done only during labour.
How is it done?
In most cases, you'll lie on a table on your back or left side.
- In external monitoring, two belts are placed around your belly. One belt holds a sensor that keeps track of your baby's heart rate. The other belt also holds a sensor. It measures the timing of your contractions.
- In internal monitoring, your doctor or midwife guides a thin wire (electrode) through your cervix and attaches it to your baby's scalp. This measures your baby's heart rate. A small tube may also be guided through your cervix and into your uterus. This measures the timing and strength of your contractions.
The sensors or the wire and tube connect to a recording device. This device can show or print out a record of your baby's heart rate and how long and how strong your contractions are.
The doctor or midwife will watch your baby's heart rate and how it responds to your contractions.
Why is the test done?
Electronic fetal monitoring helps your doctor or midwife get a sense of how the baby is doing. It helps find out if there is a problem. And it helps the doctor or midwife keep track of your baby's heart rate and your contractions during labour and birth.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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Current as of: July 11, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
