Intermittent
auscultation of the fetal heart rate (FHR) and
continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring
(EFM) are the most popular methods of intrapartum
fetal surveillance.
EFM has become popular because of the possible
on-line documentation, easy application of the
equipment, accuracy of picking up the fetal
heart rate signal and because of the additional
information obtained about the FHR and uterine
contractions
ADMISSION TEST(AT)
Fetal morbidity and mortality occurs as a consequence
of labor even in those categorized as low risk.
A better way to screen pts admitted in labor
is to assess the ability of the fetus to withstand
the functional stress of uterine contractions
of early labor. A short recording of the FHR
immediately after admission - the admission
test (AT) - might select these fetuses with
hypoxia present on admission or those who are
likely to become hypoxic in the next few hours
of labor. |
