Labor and delivery is a time in a birth parent’s life when things are uncertain, where circumstances can change with each passing minute. With a comprehensive team of medical professionals and care providers nearby, all changes receive adequate diligence and monitoring regarding the health and well-being of both the birth parent and the baby.

Providers often use fetal dopplers to monitor the baby’s well-being, especially as the mother shows signs of change. Below, we examine why you need a fetal doppler during labor and the different types of monitoring practiced.

Goals of Fetal Heart Monitoring

Fetal monitoring gives each provider and overseeing care professional an opportunity to examine and understand how well the baby’s heart is functioning. They listen to the rhythm and draw safe conclusions about the fetus’s well-being. Most often, these monitoring measures are introduced during late pregnancy and labor.

Suppose a birth parent presents health concerns or prenatal complications. In that case, the monitoring measures provide an additional layer of safety to the baby to ensure they remain unaffected by the complications. If the heart rate and rhythm show signs of distress or discomfort, professionals will evaluate the data and proceed accordingly.

Common issues birth parents face that require tight-knit fetal monitoring include:

• High-risk pregnancies
• The presence of diabetes
• Abnormal fetal development indicators
• Existing signs of preterm labor

The Types of Fetal Heart Monitoring

Providers can use either an external or internal monitoring system when completing an exam. Commonly, external monitoring includes a fetal doppler they introduced during the pregnancy or when they need a quick reading. These vary from ultrasound machines because they are small, hand-held devices that do not offer fetal imagery and only focus on the heart’s rhythms.

You need a fetal doppler during labor when the birth parent presents health concerns or rapid changes that could impact the expecting fetus. The doppler allows for convenience and rapid results where a machine may take more time away from offering the best level of care.

Risks Associated With Monitoring

Like anything, there are risks associated with using and overusing various medical devices, including fetal dopplers. But it’s essential to note that external monitoring devices carry the least amount of risk, and providers will use these only when necessary. The administering professional must apply a lube-like gel to create a safe monitoring experience, in addition to enabling the patient to get comfortable in their seats beforehand.

Cascade Health Care offers a comprehensive selection of professional, medical-grade dopplers and attachments. We value the need for each birth parent to trust in their providers and know they are receiving the highest quality of care. With our selection of equipment, each professional can achieve these goals. Shop our inventory today and pay no sales tax on all purchases!