During labor, your care team will monitor the baby’s heartbeat and your contraction pattern. This can be done in a number of different ways. In addition, your team will be intermittently monitoring your vital signs by assessing your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation.
Fetal Monitoring
- Continuous Monitoring is standard in many hospitals, especially if a birthing person needs medication for induction or pain relief. Electronic fetal monitoring can track both fetal heart rate and contraction patterns.
- External monitors are used to detect the baby’s heart rate and your contraction pattern. Two monitors are attached to your belly using a soft belt. Sometimes these monitors require you to stay in or near your bed, and other times monitors are wireless, which allows for more freedom to move around.
- Internal continuous monitoring is used less frequently. A small electrode wire is placed on the baby’s scalp to monitor the baby’s heart rate if that can’t be done safely or accurately using external monitors. Sometimes, a tube called an intrauterine pressure catheter is placed through the cervix and next to the baby. This is used to track the strength and timing of contractions with more accuracy.
- Intermittent Monitoring is typically an option for low risk pregnancies and for those looking for more freedom of movement throughout labor. Your provider will use a doppler (or less commonly a fetoscope) to listen to the baby’s heartbeat during labor at different intervals. Contractions are monitored through palpation (touching the abdomen). If concerns arise, your provider may increase the frequency of monitoring or switch to a continuous monitor.