Electronic Fetal Monitoring - ANSWER -Screening procedure to continuously monitor
Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) and Uterine Contractions (UC)
-Fetal well-being during labor can be measured by the response of FHR to uterine
contractions
-Screening procedure, NOT diagnostic
-fetal Hr trace w/contraction and see whats going on..babies response to contractions
Frequency - ANSWER -Measured from the beginning of one contraction to the
beginning of the next
-They should be no more frequent than q 2min
Duration - ANSWER -Measured from the beginning to the end of one contraction
-No longer than 90 sec
Intensity - ANSWER -Intrauterine pressure at the peak of the contraction can be
palpated or measured with external monitoring or internally. -Uterine blood flow diminished
at 30mm/HG and essentially stopped at 50mm/Hg
Resting tone or interval - ANSWER -Intrauterine pressure between contractions
-uterus at rest, last 60 secs and see how HR response to rest
Baseline Fetal Heart Rate - ANSWER -Average rate during a 10 min segment that
excludes periodic or episodic changes (longer then 10 mins..baseline change)
1
, -Normal range at term is 110-160 beats/min in a term or post term fetus
-For preterm fetus 120-160
Nursing Considerations for EFM - ANSWER -Explain purpose of EFM
-Explain the procedure of EFM placement
-Assist the woman to a comfortable position, suggest she void again
-Continuously check placement for optimum recording
-Assess & record results of EFM
External Fetal Monitoring - ANSWER -Ultrasound transducer
*High frequency sound waves
*Detects flow of blood through a vessel
-Used during antepartum & intrapartum care
-Noninvasive
-Does not require dilation or rupture of membranes (ROM)
-Tocotransducer
*Measures uterine activity transabdominally
*A pressure sensitive device placed over the uterine fundus (above the umbilicus)
Nursing Considerations for External Fetal Monitoring - ANSWER -Ultrasound
*Locate maximum intensity - usually through the fetal back (use leopold maneuvers to find
the back of the fetus)
*Apply conductive gel & place on abdomen
-Tocotransducer
*Gently palpate fundus
2
Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) and Uterine Contractions (UC)
-Fetal well-being during labor can be measured by the response of FHR to uterine
contractions
-Screening procedure, NOT diagnostic
-fetal Hr trace w/contraction and see whats going on..babies response to contractions
Frequency - ANSWER -Measured from the beginning of one contraction to the
beginning of the next
-They should be no more frequent than q 2min
Duration - ANSWER -Measured from the beginning to the end of one contraction
-No longer than 90 sec
Intensity - ANSWER -Intrauterine pressure at the peak of the contraction can be
palpated or measured with external monitoring or internally. -Uterine blood flow diminished
at 30mm/HG and essentially stopped at 50mm/Hg
Resting tone or interval - ANSWER -Intrauterine pressure between contractions
-uterus at rest, last 60 secs and see how HR response to rest
Baseline Fetal Heart Rate - ANSWER -Average rate during a 10 min segment that
excludes periodic or episodic changes (longer then 10 mins..baseline change)
1
, -Normal range at term is 110-160 beats/min in a term or post term fetus
-For preterm fetus 120-160
Nursing Considerations for EFM - ANSWER -Explain purpose of EFM
-Explain the procedure of EFM placement
-Assist the woman to a comfortable position, suggest she void again
-Continuously check placement for optimum recording
-Assess & record results of EFM
External Fetal Monitoring - ANSWER -Ultrasound transducer
*High frequency sound waves
*Detects flow of blood through a vessel
-Used during antepartum & intrapartum care
-Noninvasive
-Does not require dilation or rupture of membranes (ROM)
-Tocotransducer
*Measures uterine activity transabdominally
*A pressure sensitive device placed over the uterine fundus (above the umbilicus)
Nursing Considerations for External Fetal Monitoring - ANSWER -Ultrasound
*Locate maximum intensity - usually through the fetal back (use leopold maneuvers to find
the back of the fetus)
*Apply conductive gel & place on abdomen
-Tocotransducer
*Gently palpate fundus
2
