Electronic Fetal Monitoring Definition

The association of women s health obstetric and neonatal nurses awhonn asserts that the availability of registered nurses rns and other health care professionals who are skilled in fetal heart monitoring fhm techniques including auscultation and electronic fetal monitoring efm is essential to maternal and fetal well being during antepartum care labor and birth.

Electronic fetal monitoring definition. Efm can be utilized. Fetal assessment determination of the well being of the fetus. Electronic fetal monitoring is performed late in pregnancy or continuously during labor to ensure normal delivery of a healthy baby. Updated with the latest evidence based practice.

Definitions interpretation and management. Persistent tachystole classically with evidence of fetal distress late decelerations lost variability but later accepted as even without distress the same as modern definition of tachysystole or. Uterine contractions occurring within one minute of each other. Define electronic fetal monitoring.

Electronic fetal monitoring efm involves the use of an electronic fetal heart rate fhr monitor to record the baby s heart rate. Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring. Elastic belts are used to hold sensors against the pregnant woman s abdomen. Intermittent monitoring is done with an electronic fetal monitor a handheld doppler device or a fetoscope.

Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring is commonly used to assess fetal well being during labor. Cardiotocography ctg is a technical means of recording the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy the machine used to perform the monitoring is called a cardiotocograph more commonly known as an electronic fetal monitor efm. 1 medical and nursing histories and physical examination of the mother 2 assays of amniotic fluid obtained by amniocentesis 3 ultrasonography 4 chemical assessment of placental function 5 electronic and ultrasonic fetal heart rate monitoring and 6 chorionic villus sampling. Definition electronic fetal monitoring efm is a method for examining the condition of a baby in the uterus by noting any unusual changes in its heart rate.

Electronic fetal monitoring synonyms electronic fetal monitoring pronunciation electronic fetal monitoring translation english dictionary definition of electronic fetal monitoring. Techniques and procedures include. Two central principles of intrapartum fetal heart rate interpretation simplified user format improved assessment with pre and post tests. Although detection of fetal compromise is one benefit of fetal monitoring there are also risks.

If you have a high risk pregnancy or are having your labor induced or augmented with medication you ll likely be hooked up to an electronic fetal monitor continuously throughout labor.