Downsides or risks of fetal heart monitorsįetal heart monitoring is a valuable part of prenatal care, and there are no significant downsides or risks. įor you, hearing the incredible sound of your baby’s heart can be a sweet way to feel more connected to her.If your pregnancy is high-risk, monitoring fetal cardiac activity is a way for your practitioner to keep tabs on her general health. There are a few important reasons why your practitioner will use a fetal heart rate monitor throughout most of your pregnancy:įetal heart monitors allow your practitioner to check heart rate and rhythm and see how she’s growing and developing in utero. Benefits of using a fetal heart rate monitor In those cases, you’ll likely have heart rate sensors strapped to your belly. Your baby may only get periodic heart rate checks with a Doppler monitor if your delivery is low-risk and unmedicated.īut your baby’s heart rate will be continuously monitored if your delivery is high-risk or if you’re receiving medications, like an epidural or Pitocin. That can give a sense of how she’s coping with the stresses of labor. Your practitioner will wipe the gel off your stomach, and you’re done! How are fetal heart monitors used during labor?ĭuring labor, fetal heart monitors can show your health care team how your baby’s heartbeat reacts to contractions. Īfter listening for a minute or so and checking that everything's all right, he or she will remove the device.Your practitioner will rub clear ultrasound gel on your lower belly and press a wand-like device against your abdomen, moving it around until he or she hears cardiac activity. You may need to undress from the waist down and put on a hospital gown, or you can pull your pants below your belly. Listening to your baby’s heart at your practitioner’s office is simple and straightforward. What happens when your baby is tracked in utero with a Doppler? The sound of your baby’s heart can reveal a lot about her overall health, so it’s completely normal for your practitioner to use a fetal heart rate monitor at every prenatal checkup starting sometime in your second trimester. Reasons your practitioner will use a fetal heart monitor during your pregnancy Your doctor might start listening to your baby’s heart at your three-month checkup.Īfter the first time, you can expect him or her to check cardiac activity at every visit.
You can usually hear fetal cardiac activity on a Doppler monitor for the first time around week 10 of pregnancy, but the timing can vary a bit. When will my doctor use a fetal Doppler baby heart monitor? Starting some time in your second trimester, your practitioner will use one to check your baby’s heart rate and rhythm, which can offer insight into how your sweet pea is growing and developing in utero. What is a fetal heart monitor?Ī fetal heart monitor is a handheld Doppler device that uses ultrasound technology to listen to a baby’s heart during pregnancy. Here’s a look at what fetal heart monitors are, when and why your practitioner might use one, the benefits and risks, and whether it’s worth using an over-the-counter heart monitor at home.
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