Monitoring

Monitoring

Your LMC will listen to your baby’s heartbeat at regular intervals during labour, to ensure your baby is well. In a well pregnancy and labour, the LMC will use a hand-held monitor (Doppler) placed against your abdomen, like they did in your antenatal appointments. If there are concerns about your babies heartrate during labour your LMC may recommend the following monitoring. 

Cardio Toco Graph (CTG)

This records your baby’s heartrate and any uterine activity (contractions). You will have straps that go around your stomach, holding the monitors in place. They connect to a machine that prints out a record of your baby’s heartbeat and your contractions. This gives your LMC/Obstetrician and hospital midwives information about how your baby is coping with labour. 

Fetal Scalp Electrodes (FSE) 

A fetal scalp electrode or FSE is a spiral wire that can be placed on the scalp of your baby to monitor their heart rate and ensure their well-being. It is placed via a vaginal exam when it is difficult to monitor your baby through CTG or if your baby is in distress. 

Fetal Blood Sampling (FBS) - Only available in some hospitals

If there are signs that your baby is in distress, doctors may take a small sample of blood from the baby’s scalp, called fetal blood sampling (FBS). The results of this will assist your obstetrician and midwives to decide if your baby needs to be delivered sooner, or if labour can continue.