Learning About Electronic Fetal Monitoring

What is electronic fetal monitoring?

Electronic fetal monitoring keeps track of the heart rate of your baby (fetus). It also shows how long and how strong your contractions are. It is done during pregnancy, labor, and birth.

This type of monitoring helps your doctor see if your baby is healthy or is having any problems. It may help your doctor find the best way and time to deliver your baby.

The monitoring can be external or internal. External monitoring can be done after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Internal monitoring is done only during labor.

How is it done?

In most cases, you'll lie on a table on your back or left side.

• In external monitoring, two belts are placed around your belly. One belt holds a sensor that keeps track of your baby's heart rate. The other belt also holds a sensor. It measures the timing of your contractions.
• In internal monitoring, your doctor guides a thin wire (electrode) through your cervix and attaches it to your baby's scalp. This measures your baby's heart rate. A small tube may also be guided through your cervix and into your uterus. This measures the timing and strength of your contractions.

The sensors or the wire and tube connect to a recording device. This device can show or print out a record of your baby's heart rate and how long and how strong your contractions are.

The doctor will watch your baby's heart rate and how it responds to your contractions.

Why is the test done?

Electronic fetal monitoring helps your doctor get a sense of how the baby is doing. It helps find out if there is a problem. And it helps the doctor keep track of your baby's heart rate and your contractions during labor and birth.