FETAL MONITER

Fetal monitors are bedside units that consist of a monitoring unit,cables, and electrodes. They are designed to measure, record, anddisplay FHR, uterine contractions, and/or maternal blood pressureand heart rate before and during childbirth. These monitorsmay sense FHR and uterine contraction indirectly through themothers abdomen and/or directly by placing an electrode onthe fetal scalp (or other exposed skin surface) and measuring thechange in pressure within the uterus. Antepartum fetal monitorsare typically used in physicians offi ces and clinics long before thebeginning of labor. Most hospital-based monitors have additionalcapabilities, including fetal and maternal ECG recording