During labour, your midwife monitors your baby’s heartbeat. This helps them check how your baby is doing. It may help them detect any changes in your baby’s normal heart rate.
Your healthcare team may use:
- intermittent auscultation (also called listening in) - monitors your child's heartbeat
- cardiotocograph (CTG) monitoring - tracks your baby's heartbeat continuously
Intermittent auscultation
Your midwife can carry out intermittent auscultation using different devices.
Hand-held doppler
A hand-held doppler is a battery-operated ultrasound device that the midwife places on your tummy. You can hear your baby's heartbeat through a speaker.
The doppler is waterproof and can be used in a birthing pool.
Pinard stethoscope
A Pinard stethoscope is a manual, non-electrical device. It is shaped like a small trumpet.
Your midwife puts one end of the device on your tummy and listens to your baby's heartbeat through the other end.
Only the midwife using the device will hear your baby’s heartbeat.
Benefits of intermittent auscultation
Intermittent auscultation lets you move about freely in labour. You are not connected to a machine or device with cables.
Midwives can do this type of monitoring in your home or in the hospital.
When intermittent auscultation is used
Your midwife can use a hand-held doppler or Pinard stethoscope during labour, if your labour is low risk and there are no complications.
This means you do not have any medical conditions or difficulties during your pregnancy.
Your midwife will listen to your baby's heartbeat every:
- 15 minutes during the first stage of labour
- 5 minutes during the second stage of labour
If there are any worrying changes in your baby’s heartbeat, your midwife will recommend continuous CTG monitoring.
Continuous monitoring
CTG monitoring tracks your baby’s heartbeat continuously.
Two discs are placed on your tummy and are held in place by two belts. One disc records the baby’s heartbeat and the other records your contractions.
The discs are usually connected to the CTG with wires. Some maternity units also have wireless versions, which let you move around more easily during labour.
When CTG monitoring is used
Your healthcare team may recommend CTG monitoring during labour if:
- you had complications in your pregnancy, such as high blood pressure
- there are concerns about your baby’s growth
If it is hard to monitor your baby's heartbeat
It is sometimes hard to monitor your baby’s heartbeat. Your midwife or doctor may use a fetal scalp electrode. This is a small spiral clip that is attached to the skin on your baby’s head.
It stays in place during labour and gives a more accurate reading of your baby’s heartbeat.
The wire is connected to the CTG monitor and is removed as your baby is born.
