Fetal Monitoring in Labor!

#Shorts

External fetal monitoring (putting these devices on your belly during labor) is a common practice in North America to allow your care team to get a window into how your baby is doing throughout labor!

If you are giving birth in the hospital, you can at least expect to see these at some point in your labor -

First, once you get to the hospital, your team will want to evaluate the baby for a minimum of 20 minutes. Then, it will likely be recommended that you have these on your belly for your entire labor (I won’t get into all your options here on this post, let me know if you want one on that - but I do in my Medical Interventions class - don’t @ me about IA :) hehe just sharing what is most common).

💓Ultrasound device: gives us a window into how well your baby is getting oxygen throughout labor! If there are any concerns or interruptions, your care team can intervene to help you change positions and try to keep that baby safe!

🗜Tocometer (toco): tells your team when you’re contracting and for how long - NOT the strength of the contractions (we know that by palpating or you telling us).

Learn ALL about this common practice in my latest YouTube video “Baby Monitors in Labor”. Link in BIO!

The most annoying part about it that I hear is the straps can feel annoying, and the nurses frequently have to adjust them to keep being able to see the baby.

Did you have this? How was it for you?

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Disclaimer: all information shared is for educational purposes only and framed through the lens of birth in North America. Please consult with your doctor before attempting any of the suggested things. Anything mentioned in any of my videos is never to replace the advice of your doctor or midwife. Make sure to check with them before you try anything suggested in my videos and if you have any further questions. I do not give out medical advice.

[kaylagregory]

Recent studies have suggested that EFM does not improve outcomes, but increases the risk of operative delivery. These devices limit mobility, but there are some wireless machines. If you are being induced, or request an epidural you can expect these to be insisted on. EFM interpretation is pretty subjective, and 10 different practitioners may come up with several different diagnosises.
These devices can show us how the baby's heart is beating, we can get more than the rate and rhythm with this device, but as mentioned above, for low risk pregnant people, intermittent monitoring is the gold standard.
For all people out there, it's important to know the risks and benefits of all these items. And it's important to note that people can decline electronic fetal monitoring and ask for intermittent monitoring instead. EFM has risks, and a good practitioner will walk you through them. These things don't ensure a baby is safe in labor. They help sometimes, and cause more problems other times. All pregnant people get the choice to decline or accept.
I get ruffled when things like this are passed off as "things you can EXPECT to see". because lots of people have babies and decline EFM. Just because it's common practice doesn't mean it's a good one. EFM is a messy practice and causes problems as much as it solves them sometimes.

[mrmighty]

Remember you can refuse any intervention and treatment. Use your power and listen to your body.

[Zusie]

Sara didn’t mention that these are often held in place by stretchy bands, after a little while the monitors will slip and need to be readjusted. This will inevitably happen when you are trying to rest.

[TK-dvpq]

Pregnancy is a CRAZY journey, especially during labor and delivery... Thanks for doing it Mom's of the planet!

[Abcdefghijajajaja]

There is also a monitor that sometimes they put IN your uterus to measure how strong the contractions are. I had this. Soooo invasive

[shamekawhite]

I love how happy she is and she loves what she do, Anything that is helpful is a blessing to women, God bless you as well .❤❤❤❤❤❤

[BeautyandtheBrut]

What about wireless monitoring so I can easily move. I thought movement was important!

[daynawithawhy]

Please please please change your approach. These are not standard issue for all births, please don't present them that way. Of the 10 babies I have personally birthed, I had them with 3 of those labours. Of the births I've attended as a Midwife, maybe a dozen. They are presented as necessary when in fact they're just easier and less work for the hospital staff. A hand-held doppler or even a fetoscope provides excellent heart tones and doesn't get in Mom's way at all

[raeahthewriter]

Omg! Sarah I had no idea you were pregnant! Congratulations

[silentwillow]

At some point in my visit they lost all of his heart tones, couldn't find them, then they were faint, turned out he'd moved away so they couldn't use the external monitors and had to switch to I was uncomfortable but as long as we had those heart tones again I was fine.

[aleta]

She did not tell you. That when you are in labor they are put on the sides of your belly. As your legs are up to your neck pushing this things are digging into your belly. The bruises they left behind took 2 weeks to go away. Great just for home and all.

[vina]

Hi. I love your videos. Can you talk about still birth ? I had a still birth at 40 weeks and 3 days this year. I feel like it’s not talked about. I knew nothing bout about it until it happened to me. I don’t know if there are ways to avoid this from happening but I think it’s important to educate us moms. Especially a first time mom like myself.

[GoddessAthena]

Congratulations!!! Our babies will be the same age!

[Dayspring]

Is wireless monitoring an option so I can walk around ?

[Fashionseesta]

Yeah too bad these things aren't 100% a d shift when mother is trying to cope with labour pains, then a bad team will start getting hyfterical distracting from the whole process everytime claiming "we've lost baby" or "baby isn't happy time to consider another plan" ANNOYING AF.

[met]

Where can we buy this please lwt us know we had our previous baby stillborn and currently pregnant again third trimester and super anxious thank you

[nicolebusse]

How has no one improved these in the last 30 years? I know we have the Monica bluetooth but I need an engineer to re-design these lol

[emilypott]

But always remember you can DECLINE this. They are horribly uncomfortable and aren’t always accurate.

[hibarashid]

Is she pregnant for real😮😶 !!! The first video shot she doesnt look like but the end of the video..🤭😮

[notclaire]

When I saw Sarah in the thumbnail 🤰😳 it took me a few seconds to realize it was fake!