The umbilical cord contains two arteries and a vein, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and waste products away from the fetus. Umbilical cord - a rope-like cord connecting the fetus to the placenta. (The fetus takes in oxygen, food, and other substances and eliminates carbon dioxide and other wastes.) Placenta - an organ, shaped like a flat cake, that only grows during pregnancy and provides a metabolic interchange between the fetus and mother. Made up of mostly fibrous tissue and muscle, the cervix is circular in shape.įetus - an unborn baby from the eighth week after fertilization until birth ![]() The sac is filled with amniotic fluid (liquid made by the fetus) and the amnion (the membrane that covers the fetal side of the placenta), which protects the fetus from injury and helps to regulate the temperature of the fetus.Īnus - the opening at the end of the anal canalĬervix - the lower part of the uterus that projects into the vagina. Anatomy of the fetus:Īmniotic sac - a thin-walled sac that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy. Please see these procedures for additional information. Other procedures that may be used to monitor the well-being of the fetus include amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. A fluid-filled catheter is placed through the cervical opening into the uterus beside the fetus and transmits uterine pressure readings to the monitor. Internal uterine pressure monitoring is sometimes used along with internal fetal heart rate monitoring. Because the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions are recorded at the same time, these results can be examined together and compared. A pressure-sensitive device called a tocodynamometer is placed on the mother's abdomen over the area of strongest contractions to measure the length, frequency, and strength of uterine contractions. Internal monitoring may be used when external monitoring of the fetal heart rate is inadequate, or closer surveillance is needed.ĭuring labor, uterine contractions are usually monitored along with the fetal heart rate. Internal monitoring provides a more accurate and consistent transmission of the fetal heart rate than external monitoring because factors such as movement do not affect it. This type of electrode is sometimes called a spiral or scalp electrode. A wire electrode is attached to the fetal scalp or other body part through the cervical opening and is connected to the monitor. Internal fetal heart rate monitoring uses an electronic transducer connected directly to the fetal skin. The rate and pattern of the fetal heart are displayed on the computer screen and printed onto special graph paper. An ultrasound transducer placed on the mother's abdomen conducts the sounds of the fetal heart to a computer. A fetoscope or Doppler device may also be used to check the fetal heart rate at regular intervals during labor.Ĭontinuous electronic fetal heart monitoring may be used during labor and birth. These methods are often used during prenatal visits to count the fetal heart rate. Another type of monitor is a hand-held electronic Doppler ultrasound device. A fetoscope (a type of stethoscope) is the most basic type of external monitor. There are two methods for fetal heart rate monitoring, external and internal:Įxternal fetal heart rate monitoring uses a device to listen to or record the fetal heartbeat through the mother's abdomen. An abnormal fetal heart rate or pattern may indicate that the fetus is not getting enough oxygen or that there are other problems. The fetal heart rate may change as the fetus responds to conditions in the uterus. ![]() The average fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute, and can vary five to 25 beats per minute. ![]() (Fetal Monitoring, External and Internal) Procedure Overview What is external and internal fetal heart rate monitoring?įetal heart rate monitoring is a procedure used to evaluate the well-being of the fetus by assessing the rate and rhythm of the fetal heartbeat.ĭuring late pregnancy and labor, your physician or midwife may recommend monitoring the fetal heart rate and other functions. External and Internal Heart Rate Monitoring of the Fetus
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |