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Prenatal care is focused, not only on the health of the mother but also on that of the growing fetus. Fetal monitoring is an integral part of prenatal care, done in pregnancy and labor. Also known as fetal heart rate monitoring, it is a procedure carried out by trained care providers including Obstetricians, nurses, and midwives, who use instruments and devices to measure, monitor, and interpret the baby's heartbeat.
Fetal monitoring affects the lives of millions of women and infants every year in the United States. It says a lot about the health, growth, and development of your baby. We may say that your baby's heart rate is a method of communication because it is often a response to the conditions in your uterus.
The average fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute. If your baby is under distress, not getting enough oxygen, or is facing any other problem, the heart rate becomes abnormal with the heart beating either too fast or too slow.
Fetal monitoring is particularly helpful for women with high-risk pregnancies, that is women:
This is because these conditions affect the growth and development of the baby. The number of fetal monitoring for these women is usually around 10-15 routine monitoring per woman.
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In medical practice, fetal monitoring is carried out in one of two ways:
This method is also known as auscultation. In this method, a device or monitor is placed on your abdomen. The device amplifies the sound of your baby's heartbeat, listens to it, and records.
A common monitor is the Doppler ultrasound device. It is often used during your prenatal visits to measure your baby's heart rate.
Another external way to check your baby's heartbeat is to use a transducer or an electronic sensor belt. A transducer is kept on your belly and connected to a computer where the rate and pattern of your baby's heartbeat are displayed. The data displayed can then be printed on paper. This device is often used to continuously count your baby's heart rate during labor and birth.
As the name implies, this method of fetal heart monitoring is invasive. It can only be done if the amniotic sac (the fluid-filled bag that surrounds and protects your baby in the uterus) has broken and your cervix has dilated to at least 2cm. Your baby's scalp is reached through your cervix and a thin wire, also known as the electrode, is fastened on it.
The thin wire is connected to a monitor and data about your baby's heart rate as well as your uterine contractions will be displayed and compared. It is used when the external fetal monitoring method is not providing satisfactory results or your baby needs to be watched closely during labor.
The two methods of fetal monitoring require the physical presence of both a healthcare provider and a pregnant woman. However, this may not always be convenient and accessible, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic, physician shortages, and for women living in rural areas.
However, the advent of telemedicine in prenatal care seems to get this taken care of with remote fetal monitoring. With telemedicine, remote solutions for home fHR monitoring and signal processing technique have been developed.
Pregnant women are instructed and trained on how to use these devices and software from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, these devices have sensors, and readings are transmitted to a monitor or cloud platform of a local doctor, nurse, midwife, or obstetrician at the healthcare facility. Certain apps and software on smart devices can remind the pregnant woman when to have a fetal monitoring session, interpret the results, and state what should be done if the results are abnormal.
While the availability and application of remote fetal monitoring devices are relatively low, it is one aspect of telemedicine in prenatal care that is being looked into to solve the challenges of accessibility and availability of prenatal care.
At My Virtual Physician, we provide a wholesome prenatal care service for both you and your baby.
We provide insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross; which shows that we care deeply for our clients.
We are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. To get the best prenatal care, contact us today!
