For many moms, this is a time where the ability to move about is so important.įortunately, now there is another option that offers the best of both worlds: wireless heart monitors.īaylor Scott & White Health is able to offer women the opportunity to labor with wireless fetal monitors. But the traditional monitors can be a nuisance to moms who desire an unmedicated delivery or moms who want to rest in early labor. All birth stories are unique because every labor journey is unique.ĭue to the fluctuations that can occur during labor, there are times that continuous fetal monitoring is an absolute must in order to provide the safest care to moms and babies. The best of both worldsĪs with any birth story, everyone comes with their own set of needs and concerns. In this case, fetal heart monitoring is critical for both mom and baby.

However, if the mom requires any intervention, such as pain control medications, or has any complications, we must monitor how it’s affecting the baby as well as the mom in order to provide the safest care possible. If a mom in labor does not need any medical intervention and wants an unmedicated delivery, then as long as the initial fetal heart rate tracing looks reassuring, continuous monitoring is not needed. While fetal monitoring is important, it is not needed for everyone.

If the heart rate looks reassuring, then the need for fetal monitoring depends on the patient’s medical needs and the circumstances surrounding her labor experience. capture a baseline for what the heart rate looks like at the beginning of the labor process verify that the baby’s oxygenation status is goodī. There are days I go home and hear the “thump, thump, thump” of the monitors in my sleep!įor women in labor, the standard of care across the nation is to obtain a 20-minute reassuring fetal heart rate strip to:Ī. As a labor and delivery nurse for 16 years, I’ve done a lot of fetal monitoring. I will agree, like any good thing, sometimes it’s used too much. Why is fetal monitoring important?īefore diving into the exciting topic of wireless fetal monitoring, let’s first talk about the importance of fetal monitoring. Today, an innovation of wireless fetal heart monitoring is offering mothers freedom and mobility, as well as the peace of mind knowing we’re watching their little one’s heartbeat every step of the way. Many women in labor find traditional monitoring techniques inconvenient and confining. During labor, fetal heart rate monitoring is one of the critical ways both mom and her medical team can closely observe a child’s vitals. When the joyous day arrives, and it is time to deliver a baby, the number one priority of a mother is to successfully bring her child into the world.

Wireless heart monitor