How Fetal Monitors are Used

1. How Fetal Monitors are Used?

2. Introduction Technological advances have provided the medical fraternity with equipment to supplement clinical examination of patients. Fetal monitor is one such equipment that reflects, records, and indicates activity of the fetus’ heart and within the uterine chamber. It can predict and assess the fetus’ health and condition inside the uterus. The machine is used to monitor heart rate and depending on readings, Doctors decide on steps to be taken.

3. Fetal Heartbeat rates Fetal heartbeats follow certain known and set patterns. This rate varies according to the weeks of gestation completed. There is a baseline rate but this may increase temporarily due to stress or activity. After 32 weeks of gestation, for example, it is considered normal for heart beat rate to be higher by 15 beats of baseline. This accelerated rate may last as long as 2 minutes without indicating stress. When the rate remains high for longer periods, the baseline is affected and changed.

4. How readings help Monitoring heart rates provide the exact readings for heart activity of a fetus. Unusual acceleration indicates unprompted activity through some stimulation of the uterine wall. When the acceleration is an episode only, there is no abnormal uterine activity indicated. However, with prolonged acceleration, chances of uterine contractions become maximized. The monitor readings clearly define the cause of acceleration of heart beat.

5. What the readings indicate The change in heart beat rate shows an increase or decrease in metabolic activity of the fetus. A temporary pressure on the umbilical cord would induce temporary activity reduction and a simultaneous change in heart beat rate. Though this may appear as more than episodic rate increase, monitor reading analysis will show that it eases off within the time limit and does not show an effect on the baseline. Fast heartbeat could be associated with the birthing process but in the absence of scalp stimulation, the indication is not an absolute certainty because increase in the mother’s heartbeat due to pushing actually results in a decrease in the fetal beat.

6. When and how to use monitors These machines can be used to periodically test the heart beat rate of the fetus during the gestation period. They are also used during the period of labor to study the health of mother and child and to take appropriate measures for their well being. There is some danger in continuous monitoring during labor as the changes in reading could result in assisted delivery or caesarian section when a normal birth could have taken place.

7. Conclusion Fetal monitors can be a simple hand held Doppler device or a fetoscope which is a specially designed stethoscope. These are external devices. They are also available as internal electrodes that are introduced into the uterus and placed on the head of the fetus. While the external devices are extensively used, internal devices are less widely used. Judicious and conscientious use of the device can be beneficial to both mother and child. Silverline Meditech is a fetal monitor supplier & exporter in India and cities of India.

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