Fetal heart monitoring should be interpreted and viewed under a doctor’s supervision. Fetal heart monitoring mainly looks at three major components: fetal heart monitoring scoring criteria, uterine contractions, and fetal heart rate baseline.
1. Fetal heart rate monitoring score: According to the score of the fetal heart rate monitoring sheet, the score of fetal heart rate growth rate, fetal heart rate baseline, fetal heart rate variability, fetal heart rate deceleration will be added up, 4 points and below indicate fetal hypoxia, 5-7 points indicate suspicion, and 8-10 points indicate a good response to monitoring.
2. Contractions: According to the frequency of contractions, they can be categorized as normal and excessive. By observing the contraction curve, one can determine whether there is fetal heart rate deceleration. Fetal heart rate decelerations may be multiple or intermittent.
3. Baseline fetal heart rate: The normal range is 110-160 beats per minute. Fetal heart rate less than 110 beats/min is called bradycardia; more than 160 beats/min is called tachycardia.
Bradycardia can be seen in term pregnancy, occipital transverse position, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, etc., and usually does not require urgent intervention. On the other hand, tachycardia is often associated with maternal fever, infection, fetal anemia or hypoxia, and requires immediate intervention.
If any abnormalities in fetal heart rate monitoring occur, it is important to seek immediate medical attention and follow the doctor’s instructions for further examination and treatment to avoid adverse consequences.