Re: Internal Fetal Monitoring

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: Laurie: "umbilical cord cutting"
• Previous message: mitchelle: "Pregnanay- birth"
• Maybe in reply to: Veronica: "Internal Fetal Monitoring"

Veronica, Is there more to this story? Does the reason for induction have more to do with why the MD wants to monitor internally perhaps? At our hospital (I'm an L&D nurse), internal monitoring does not mean you must stay in bed. There's no reason you cannot walk around with internal monitoring - it's usually the REASON that internal monitoring was done that prevents ambulation, not the monitoring itself (at least at our hospital - maybe others have different policies). There are also two types of internal monitoring - one for the baby's heartbeat and one for the uterine activity - either or both may be done internally. The heartrate might be monitored internally on a baby with a worrisome tracing (to get a very accurate look at how baby is doing), or on a mom who had alot of "padding" on her abdomen, making accurate external monitoring difficult or impossible. The internal uterine monitoring might be done if medication was needed to strengthen labor (more accurate record of strength/frequency of contractions). There are other reasons but those are the most common.

As for telemetry monitoring: it's not the telemetry itself that can cause problems with an innacurate tracing, it's the upright position of mom. Because of the angle of the belly when standing and walking, it can be difficult to "point" the external transducer at the baby's heart. If the monitor does not get a strong signal, the tracing it shows will be spotty and difficult to evaluate. In my opinion, intermittent monitoring is a better answer - mom can walk or assume any position during monitor breaks. If baby's or mom's problems warrant continuous monitoring, then external tele while ambulating is probably not a good choice - in that instance an internal monitor (with tele) might be the answer - and now we're back to where we began! Debbie RNC

• Next message: Laurie: "umbilical cord cutting"
• Previous message: mitchelle: "Pregnanay- birth"
• Maybe in reply to: Veronica: "Internal Fetal Monitoring"