🤰 Technologies and Methods for Comprehensive Fetal Monitoring
Fetal Monitoring encompasses various methods and technologies used to assess the health and well-being of the fetus during pregnancy and, most critically, during labor and delivery. The primary focus is often on assessing the fetal heart rate (FHR) and its patterns relative to uterine contractions to identify potential distress.
External Fetal Monitoring (Non-Invasive):
Doppler Ultrasound: A handheld device often used during prenatal visits or intermittently during labor to listen to and count the FHR.
Continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM): Uses an ultrasound transducer strapped to the mother's abdomen to continuously track the FHR and a separate pressure transducer (a tocodynamometer) to monitor the frequency and duration of uterine contractions. The data is displayed on a screen and often printed on paper.
Internal Fetal Monitoring (Invasive): Used to obtain a more precise and reliable measurement, typically only after the rupture of membranes and sufficient cervical dilation.
Fetal Scalp Electrode (FSE): A thin wire attached directly to the baby's scalp (usually the presenting part) to provide a highly accurate FHR reading, unaffected by maternal movement or body size.
Intrauterine Pressure Catheter (IUPC): A thin tube inserted into the uterus to measure the exact strength and timing of uterine contractions in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Clinical Applications: Fetal monitoring is a standard procedure, especially for high-risk pregnancies or when labor is induced or augmented, to ensure adequate fetal oxygenation and to guide clinical intervention decisions. It is also used as part of specific prenatal tests, such as the Nonstress Test (NST) and Biophysical Profile (BPP).