Based on the principle of ultrasound Doppler and changes in fetal cardiac current, the fetal monitor can observe fetal development. They are important for fetal development observation. So, what are the functions of fetal monitors?
The role of fetal heart rate monitoring during pregnancy
With fetal heart rate monitoring, we can know the status of the fetus in the uterus, detect fetal hypoxia in time, and make an early diagnosis of fetal distress. At the end of pregnancy, the oxygen demand of pregnant women increases. As the fetus grows, the space for the fetus in the uterus becomes smaller, and the probability of umbilical cord compression increases, which may cause fetal distress. The slow fetal heart rate may be caused by fetal hypoxia.
The role of fetal heart rate monitoring
Uterine contractions can reduce the circulating blood volume of the uterus and affect the blood gas exchange between mother and child. With every uterine contraction, the fetus is tested by hypoxia. Therefore, monitoring the fetal heart rate at the early stage of labor can detect fetal distress in time. Active treatment, such as oxygen inhalation or changing body position, can improve the hypoxic state and reduce neonatal asphyxia and mortality.
Is fetal heart monitoring necessary?
Fetal heart rate monitoring checks the fetus's status in the mother's womb. It is necessary for the development of the fetus. Especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, there is fetal heart rate monitoring at each obstetric examination. And it is also a must for expectant mothers to perform fetal heart rate monitoring. For high-risk pregnant women, the doctor will arrange fetal heart rate monitoring, if necessary, for up to an hour. Therefore, fetal heart monitoring is a must-have obstetric inspection item.
Fetal heart rate monitoring during the obstetric examination
Fetal heart monitoring uses the principle of ultrasound to monitor the fetus in the womb, which is safe for the fetus. With the wave graph formed by the instantaneous fetal heart rate change, we can know the fetal heart rate response during fetal movement and uterine contraction and speculate whether the fetus is hypoxic in the uterus.
During monitoring, two fetal transducers are on the stomach of the pregnant woman. One is to the top of the uterus and is a baroreceptor to know whether there are uterine contractions and the intensity of uterine contractions. One is on the back or chest of the fetus for heart rate monitoring.
There are corresponding graphic displays of fetal heart rate and uterine contractions on the monitor screen. And there are two main lines on the screen, the upper one is the fetal heart rate, and the lower one is the intrauterine pressure. The fetal heart rate fluctuates between 120-160 beats/min. The line is a straight line with a waveform, and the heart rate will rise when there is a fetal movement. The lower one will increase during uterine contractions and then maintain about 20mmHg.
The fetal heart rate monitor will trace the number of heartbeats calculated by each cardiac cycle of the fetal heart rate to display the baseline variation of the fetal heart rate.
Fetal heart rate measurement at home
Self-monitoring fetal heart rate at home can be done through a stethoscope, fetal heart monitoring devices, or fetal movement counting.
(1) Stethoscope: there are technical requirements for finding the position of the fetal heart. The fetal heart is small, and it is not easy for ordinary people to find it. We have to do it under the guidance of professors.
(2) Fetal heart rate device: These monitors use Doppler auscultation technology to listen to the fetal heart rate. And some can display the fetal heart rate through LED or LCD. It is a smart device and can reach the standard of monitoring fetal heart rate at home.
(3) Counting fetal movements: It is also a very effective and easy method with relatively high accuracy. Most doctors recommend this method for expectant mothers. The healthy fetal movement is no less than 3-5 times in 1 hour, and the number of fetal movements in 12 hours is more than 30-40 times. If the number of fetal movements in 12 hours is less than 10 times, it is a decrease in fetal movement, and we should visit our doctor to check the reason.
0 Comments