Cerebral Palsy videos
Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Today I would like to talk about fetal heart monitoring, specifically their interpretation. When a mother is in labor and delivery the health care providers put a belt around her abdomen to measure the baby's heart rate as well as her own contractions. The relationship between the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions is very important to the health care provider to determine if the baby is tolerating the labor. There are generally several things that one can see on the monitor. For example, the heart rate itself, is it a normal heart rate which should range between 110-120 and 160. Below that, the baby could develop bradycardia- a slow heart beat - and you don't want that. Above that, the baby could develop tachycardia- a rapid heart rate - and you want to avoid that as well.
During labor and delivery, depending upon when contractions occur, the mother can develop fetal heart rate decelerations on the monitor. There are generally three types of decelerations: early, variable and late.
Early- occur very early with respect to contractions;
Late - occur very late with respect to contractions;
Variable – their shape is described either by a U or a V, so it is easily recognized.
Early decelerations are usually reassuring, they indicate all is well and they are usually due to head compression.
Variable decelerations are usually due to cord compression. Since many labors have cord compression this is usually not of concern. It is only when variable decelerations become deep and persistent that there is cause for alarm because that could indicate that the baby is not getting enough oxygen or blood flow to the brain during that time period. Late decelerations are usually due to placenta problems and if they persist and do not improve, that can also be a warning sign to the labor and delivery.
We have discussed the base line heart rate and decelerations.
Another thing I would like to mention about fetal heart monitoring is accelerations which is a rise in the baby’s heart rate and that can be a reassuring sign that all is well.
The final idea I want to mention is called beat to beat variability. That is the jiggling motion on the heart rate monitor. Generally you want to see some variation on the heart rate monitor. When a baby is showing a persistent flat line, which is not a good sign and may indicate hypoxia.
Putting all of this together, a health care provider can know how to manage a labor and delivery and which labors are allowed to proceed and which labors should get an operative delivery.
All are Cerebral Palsy Videos
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 1 - Introduction to Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 2 - Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 3 - Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 4 - Timing a Brain Injury
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 5 - Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 6 - Nucleated Red Blood Cells
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 7 - Radiograph
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 8 - Placenta Pathlogy
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 9 - Microcephaly
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 10 - Vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC)
Cerebral Palsy video chapter 11 - Placental Abruption
