For Patients/Families

Fetal monitoring
Monitoring of the baby before birth. This usually refers to monitoring of the fetal heart beat. There are two ways to do this. Before the mother's membranes have ruptured (water has broken) a belt containing a receiver similar to an ultrasound can strapped to her abdomen and used to monitor the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions. After the membranes have ruptured and the cervix has dilated, an internal monitor can be attached directly to the baby's scalp. There are other tests that can be used to monitor the fetus during and before labor such as ultrasound, scalp pH measurements, and others.