Monitoring your baby’s response to labour

During each contraction the blood supply to the placenta, and therefore to your baby, is temporarily interrupted. A normal healthy baby will cope well during this process. To endure your baby is coping okay, your baby’s heartbeat is monitored throughout labour.

There are different ways of monitoring the baby’s heartbeat:

• We can listen to the baby’s heart intermittently with a hand-held ultrasound monitor called a Doppler. This method allows you to be free to move around in labour if you wish. It can also be used in water if you wish to use warm water immersion for pain relief. This gives an intermittent picture of how your baby is coping with labour.

• The heartbeat and contractions may also be measured through a monitor called a Cardiotocograph (CTG). This gives a continuous recording of both your baby’s heartbeat and your contractions. The transducers are strapped to your tummy with two belts. There are versions of this which can allow you to be mobile around the room. This method is used if your labour is being induced, you have an epidural or there are any concerns regarding your baby’s ability to cope with labour due to complications in your pregnancy. .
• Sometimes I may ask to put a clip (scalp electrode) on your baby’s head so that their heart rate can be monitored more exactly. If so I will explain why I am recommending this.