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Fetal Heart MonitoringWhat is fetal heart monitoring?Fetal heart rate monitoring measures the heart rate and rhythm of your baby (fetus). This lets your healthcare provider see how your baby is doing. Your healthcare provider may do fetal heart monitoring during late pregnancy and labor. The average fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute. It can vary by 5 to 25 beats per minute. The fetal heart rate may change as your baby responds to conditions in your uterus. An abnormal fetal heart rate may mean that your baby is not getting enough oxygen or that there are other problems. There are 2 ways to do fetal heart monitoring, external and internal. External fetal heart monitoringThis method uses a device to listen to and record your baby’s heartbeat through your belly (abdomen). One type of monitor is a Doppler ultrasound device. It’s often used during prenatal visits to count the baby’s heart rate. It may also be used to check the fetal heart rate during labor. The healthcare provider may also check your baby’s heart rate continuously during labor and birth. To do this, the ultrasound probe (transducer) is fastened to your belly. It sends the sounds of your baby’s heart to a computer. The rate and pattern of your baby’s heart rate are shown on a screen and may be printed on paper. Internal fetal heart monitoringThis method uses a thin wire (electrode) put on your baby’s scalp. The wire runs from the baby through your cervix. It's connected to the monitor. This method gives better readings because things like movement don’t affect it. But it can only be done if the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the baby during pregnancy (amniotic sac) has broken and the cervix is opened. Your provider may use internal monitoring when external monitoring is not giving a good reading. Or your provider may use this method to watch your baby more closely during labor. During labor, your healthcare provider will watch your uterine contractions and your baby’s heart rate. Your provider will note how often you are having contractions and how long each lasts. Because the fetal heart rate and contractions are recorded at the same time, these results can be looked at together and compared. Your provider may check the pressure inside your uterus while doing internal fetal heart monitoring. To do this, he or she will put a thin tube (catheter) through your cervix and into your uterus. The catheter will send uterine pressure readings to a monitor. Why might I need fetal heart monitoring?Fetal heart rate monitoring is especially helpful if you have a high-risk pregnancy. Your pregnancy is high risk if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. It's also high risk if your baby is not developing or growing as it should. Fetal heart rate monitoring may be used to check how preterm labor medicines are affecting your baby. These medicines are used to help keep labor from starting too early. Fetal heart rate monitoring may be used in other tests, including:
Things that may affect the fetal heart rate during labor:
Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to use fetal heart rate monitoring. What are the risks of fetal heart monitoring?Radiation is not used for this test. The transducer usually causes no discomfort. You may find the elastic belts that hold the transducers in place slightly uncomfortable. These can be readjusted as needed. You must lie still during some types of fetal heart rate monitoring. You may need to stay in bed during labor. With internal monitoring, you may have some slight discomfort when the electrode is put in your uterus. Risks of internal monitoring include infection and bruising of your baby’s scalp or other body part. Note: You should not have internal fetal heart rate monitoring if you are HIV positive. This is because you may pass the infection on to your baby. You may have other risks depending on your specific health condition. Be sure to talk with your provider about any concerns you have before the procedure. Certain things may make the results of fetal heart rate monitoring less accurate. These include:
How do I get ready for fetal heart monitoring?
What happens during fetal heart monitoring?You may have fetal heart rate monitoring in your healthcare provider's office or as part of a hospital stay. The way the test is done may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices. Generally, fetal heart rate monitoring follows this process: External fetal heart monitoring
Internal fetal heart monitoring
What happens after fetal heart rate monitoring?You don't need any special care after external fetal heart monitoring. You may go back to your normal diet and activity unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. After internal fetal heart rate monitoring, your healthcare provider will check your baby’s scalp for infection, bruising, or a cut. The provider will clean the site with an antiseptic. Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions, based on your situation. Next stepsBefore you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:
Can you hear fetal heart tones at 14 weeks?Unfortunately, you can't hear it as early as you can with an ultrasound or fetal Doppler. With a stethoscope, a baby's heartbeat is often detectable between the 18th and 20th week. Stethoscopes are designed to amplify small sounds.
When can you hear heartbeat at 14 weeks?You may hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time at your dating scan. Your dating scan usually happens between eight weeks and 14 weeks.
Where is the best place for the nurse to listen for fetal heart tones?After 30 weeks' gestation, fetal heart tones are best heard through the fetal back. As shown in the top photo, you can find it by gently palpating the mother's abdomen for a firm area midline on the left or right side.
Why can't I hear my baby's heartbeat at 14 weeks?You might not be able to hear a baby's heartbeat at your first ultrasound. Most commonly, this is because it's too early in the pregnancy. This doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. Your doctor may recommend you schedule another ultrasound 1 to 2 weeks later.
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