Learning About Fetal Heart Monitoring
What is fetal heart monitoring?
Fetal heart monitoring keeps track of the heart rate of your unborn baby (fetus). It also shows how long and how strong your contractions are. It is done during pregnancy, labour, and delivery.
This technique helps your doctor see if your unborn baby is healthy or is having any problems. It may help your doctor find the best way to deliver your baby.
The monitoring can be external or internal. External monitoring can be done anytime 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 guides a thin wire through your vagina and cervix. Your doctor attaches it to your baby's scalp. A small tube is also guided through your vagina. This connects a device that measures your baby's heart rate and 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 strong your contractions are.
The doctor will watch your baby's heart rate and how it responds to your contractions.
Why is the test done?
Fetal heart monitoring helps your doctor get a sense of how the baby is doing. It helps the doctor know if there is a problem that needs to be fixed. And it helps the doctor keep track of your baby's heart rate during labour and delivery.
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: November 9, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Femi Olatunbosun MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology