Types of Fetal monitoring

Learn about application of various types of fetal monitoring during antenatal visit, complicated pregnancy and during labour such as continous, intermittent, ambulatory, hands on auscultation and internal monitoring.

1. TYPES OF FETAL MONITORING Obstetric and gynecology nursing Muneeswari Jeyachandran

2. DEFINITION Fetal monitoring is a procedure in which instruments are used to continuously record the heartbeat of the fetus and the contractions of the woman's uterus during labor.

3. TYPE OF FETAL MONITORING Continuous or non-ambulatory electronic fetal monitoring. Intermittent electronic fetal monitoring Ambulatory electronic fetal monitoring/ Telemetry Internal fetal monitoring or Fetal Scalp Electrode Hands-On-Listening or Intermittent Auscultation

4. Continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring Continuous electronic FHR monitoring performs by applying an ultrasound transducer to the mother’s abdomen, by attaching an electrode assembly to the fetus after rupture of the amniotic membranes till delivery of baby.

5. Intermittent electronic fetal monitoring Intermittent electronic FHR monitoring performs infrequently by applying an ultrasound transducer to maternal abdomen to identify the status of fetal condition.

6. Ambulatory electronic fetal monitoring or Telemetry Mini Telemetry System offers a simple, complete wireless monitoring solution for efficient, enhanced workflow in early stage of labor and gives more comfortable birthing experience.

7. Hands on listening or intermittent auscultation Intermittent Auscultation is a method of periodically Listening to the fetal heartbeat by a handheld Doppler device, a stethoscope-like device called a fetoscope , or one part of the electronic fetal heart monitor.

8. Internal fetal monitoring or Fetal Scalp Electrode Internal fetal heart rate monitoring uses an electronic transducer connected directly to the fetal skin. A wire electrode is attached to the fetal scalp or other body part through the cervical opening and is connected to the monitor and this type of electrode is called as spiral or scalp electrode.