The period of pregnancy extends over nine months during which the embryo grows into a baby, ready to be born. During this time, the mother’s body will be under considerable strain as she has to carry the weight of the growing fetus. Several changes will be needed in the mother’s life relating to her diet, lifestyle and activity levels. Pregnancy is also a stressful time for the developing fetus. There are a number of complications that can occur which need to be checked for. Prompt treatment of these conditions can drastically improve the chances of the baby being born normal. Fetal complications, on the other hand, could have drastic effects on the viability of the fetus. Fetal monitoring is also important during labor and during the process of delivery. This is done to ensure that the child’s heart is beating while it passes through the extremely stressful process of birth. If this is not the case, the child may be resuscitated when it is delivered.
Fetal heart monitoring is a procedure to monitor the heart rate of the fetus. During the pregnancy, the heart of the fetus will develop to the point where it starts beating on its own. This is an important stage in the life of the fetus and is one of the critical functions that needs to be developed. There are certain fetal heart monitoring principles and practices that need to be followed and paid careful attention to. There are two fetal heart monitoring categories which are different based on the type of monitoring that takes place. The first is that of an external fetal heart monitoring test. This is done using a monitoring device placed on the mother’s abdomen. The mother may have to have her right hip raised to provide a clearer reading of the fetal heart rate.
Internal fetal heart monitoring is conducted by inserting a device into the cervix. This device is used to monitor the fetal heart as well as the rate of contraction of the mother’s uterus. Both these are important when it comes close to the time of delivery.
Fetal heart monitoring may also be conducted during the middle or middle end of the pregnancy period. The mother may be made to consume some food or to drink some liquids while the fetal heart monitoring takes place. This should stimulate the fetus and cause the heart rate to change. The fetal heart monitoring interpretation needs to be done by your doctor and no one else. This is important because the chances of fetal heart monitoring variability in the results are huge. The advice of an experienced doctor is needed for such procedures.