– Continuous Doppler ultrasound: During the process of labor, continuous Fetal heart monitoring is required. They are also available for at-home use, commercially, but these devices are not supported due to inaccuracy and misleading claims. The Doppler probe gives out a reading which can help the technician and physician understand the heart rate.ĭopplers are now the preferred devices everywhere, due to their high accuracy and ease of use. – Handheld Doppler ultrasound is a device that can easily detect the baby’s heart rate by using a gel-like medium which allows transmission of the sound. It amplifies the sound coming from the baby’s heart and lungs. – Fetoscope is similar to a stethoscope but has a cone-shaped end instead of a flat one. The devices that may be used to perform external heart rate monitoring include: External heart monitoring is non-invasive, and is hence, preferably practised unless there is a need for precise monitoring. This is done by using a device that can detect the heart rate over the abdomen. What are The Types of Fetal Heart Monitoring?įetal heart monitoring can be carried out using two methods, depending on what needs to be assessed: A) External Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring: – Birth: During labor and delivery, the Fetal heart monitoring test is used to ensure that the foetus is not being distressed by the progression of the delivery process.

– High-risk pregnancies: If you are diagnosed with diabetes, preeclampsia, or experience any distress or bleeding during pregnancy, then your doctor is more likely to use the Fetal heart monitoring test frequently to ensure that the baby is not in distress. Therefore, every prenatal appointment is likely to involve a Fetal heart monitoring test.Īpart from that, your obstetrician may also use it during:

The reference used is a Fetal heart rate by week chart. The Fetal heart rate by week is often used as a marker of appropriate week-wise growth by obstetricians, to ensure that the pregnancy is on track. When is Fetal Heart Monitoring Done?įetal heart rate monitoring is a routine test. However, an abnormal heart rate can be an indicator that your baby is not getting enough oxygen or that there may be other problems.

This may not always signal that something is abnormal because the foetus responds differently to conditions in the uterus. This normal Fetal heart rate can fluctuate by around 5 to 25 beats per minute. The average Fetal heart rate of an unborn baby ranges between 110–160 beats per minute. Therefore, doctors rely highly on tests that can provide them with developmental markers, one of which is the Fetal heart rate. Why is Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Performed?ĭuring pregnancy, there are limited methods that provide insight into the development and well-being of a foetus. By monitoring the presence of a normal Fetal heart rate, the physician or your health provider can gain insight into the baby’s development and find out if the baby is having any trouble while in-utero. Fetal heart rate monitoring is one of the most advanced tests performed to determine the speed and pattern of the baby’s heartbeat when they are in the womb.

Normal heartbeat for 10 week fetus