How Is My Baby Heart Monitored?
There are two ways your baby's heart can be monitored during labour.
It can be monitored either at regular intervals (intermittent) or continuously (electronic fetal monitoring). The midwives and doctors will advise you depending on your pregnancy and risk factors, which one would be
recommended when you go into labour.
Intermittent Monitoring
Intermittent monitoring is the usual method of monitoring for low-risk pregnancies. It achieves a balance between detecting babies that are not coping well during labour whilst reducing the risk of unnecessary interventions.
Your midwife will listen to your baby’s heart rate at regular intervals during labour, whilst measuring your pulse to ensure they can tell them apart.
Continuous Monitoring
Continuous monitoring uses a machine called a Cardiotocograph or CTG. This detects and prints out your baby’s heartbeat continuously during labour.
If you have any risk factors during pregnancy and labour or health problems that might affect how your baby copes with labour, you may be recommended a CTG. This will let the midwives and doctors see if there are any changes to your baby's heart rate pattern and show how they are coping with labour.
Fetal heart rate monitoring in labour - your choices
How Does A CTG Work?
For the CTG machine to record your baby’s heart rate and contractions, you will have two straps attached to
your abdomen. One strap holds the ‘toco’ (sensor to monitor contractions) in place. The second strap holds the ‘transducer’ (fetal heart rate detector).
The CTG will provide a continuous printout of your baby’s heart rate pattern. The midwives and doctors will monitor this during labour and can explain to you how your baby is coping.
You may choose to have your baby monitored with a CTG or if you are not comfortable with this, you may choose intermittent monitoring. Please discuss this with your midwife to allow a personalised plan for labour based on your choices.
Fetal heart rate monitoring in labour - your choices
Making Your Decision
Choosing to have your baby monitored in labour is your choice and your midwifery team are available to help guide you through the benefits, risks and options for labour.
- Your choice in how the team monitor your baby’s heartbeat can be included in your personalised care plan. This can be shared with those caring for you and your baby to ensure they are aware of your decision.
- You may choose one method or you may decide that you prefer your baby to be listened to at differing intervals to the national recommendations.
- Your midwife is always there to discuss choices in more detail and help you to feel fully informed.
Remember, your decision can change any time and you will be supported to make choices on what you feel comfortable with.
labour, the midwives and doctors will monitor you and your baby, this includes watching your baby’s heart rate pattern. This is called fetal heart monitoring and is a normal part of the labour process.
