Fetal heart monitoring
Fetal heart monitoring measures a baby's (fetus's) heart rate during pregnancy or labor and delivery. These measurements can help health professionals check a fetus's general condition and identify early signs of distress.
During labor and delivery, the fetal heart rate is closely watched along with the mother's uterine contractions (using a tocometer) to see how the baby is responding and whether any treatments, such as the use of medicines, are needed to help speed up delivery.
Two types of monitoring-external or internal-can be done.
- For external monitoring, instruments that detect fetal heartbeats are placed around the pregnant woman's abdomen.
- For internal monitoring, electrodes that measure fetal heartbeats are connected to the fetus's scalp. Internal monitoring is not done if there is placenta previa, a condition where the placenta is low and just above the cervix, because of the risk of bleeding.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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