Fetal heart rate monitoring is the process of checking the condition of your baby during labor and delivery by monitoring his or her heart rate with special equipment.
Fetal heart rate monitoring may help detect changes in the normal heart rate pattern during labor. If certain changes are detected, steps can be taken to help treat the underlying problem.
Fetal heart rate monitoring also can help prevent treatments that are not needed. A normal fetal heart rate can reassure both you and your health care provider that it is safe to continue labor if no other problems are present.
The procedure for monitoring fetal heart rate is painless, but internal monitoring can be uncomfortable. There are very few risks associated with this procedure, so it is routinely done on all patients in labor and delivery. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your baby’s heart rate during labor.
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