Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring for Checking Baby’s Heart Rate and Gender

Fetal heart rate monitoring is one of the most advanced tests performed to determine the speed and pattern of the baby’s heartbeat when they are in the womb. By monitoring the presence of a normal Fetal heart rate, the physician or your health provider can gain insight into the baby's development and find out if the baby is having any trouble while in-utero.

Why is Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Performed?

During pregnancy, there are limited methods that provide insight into the development and well-being of a foetus. Therefore, doctors rely highly on tests that can provide them with developmental markers, one of which is the Fetal heart rate.

The average Fetal heart rate of an unborn baby ranges between 110–160 beats per minute. This normal Fetal heart rate can fluctuate by around 5 to 25 beats per minute. This may not always signal that something is abnormal because the foetus responds differently to conditions in the uterus. However, an abnormal heart rate can be an indicator that your baby is not getting enough oxygen or that there may be other problems.

When is Fetal Heart Monitoring Done?

Fetal heart rate monitoring is a routine test. The Fetal heart rate by week is often used as a marker of appropriate week-wise growth by obstetricians, to ensure that the pregnancy is on track. The reference used is a Fetal heart rate by week chart. Therefore, every prenatal appointment is likely to involve a Fetal heart monitoring test.

Apart from that, your obstetrician may also use it during:

-  High-risk pregnancies: If you are diagnosed with diabetes, preeclampsia, or experience any distress or bleeding during pregnancy, then your doctor is more likely to use the Fetal heart monitoring test frequently to ensure that the baby is not in distress.

-   Birth: During labor and delivery, the Fetal heart monitoring test is used to ensure that the foetus is not being distressed by the progression of the delivery process.

What are The Types of Fetal Heart Monitoring?

Fetal heart monitoring can be carried out using two methods, depending on what needs to be assessed:

A)   External Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring:

This is done by using a device that can detect the heart rate over the abdomen. External heart monitoring is non-invasive, and is hence, preferably practised unless there is a need for precise monitoring. The devices that may be used to perform external heart rate monitoring include:

-   Fetoscope is similar to a stethoscope but has a cone-shaped end instead of a flat one. It amplifies the sound coming from the baby’s heart and lungs.

-   Handheld Doppler ultrasound is a device that can easily detect the baby’s heart rate by using a gel-like medium which allows transmission of the sound. The Doppler probe gives out a reading which can help the technician and physician understand the heart rate.

Dopplers are now the preferred devices everywhere, due to their high accuracy and ease of use. They are also available for at-home use, commercially, but these devices are not supported due to inaccuracy and misleading claims.

-   Continuous Doppler ultrasound: During the process of labor, continuous Fetal heart monitoring is required. Therefore, the obstetrician may opt for a continuous Doppler monitor which is secured using a strap instead of being held by hand. The connected wires continuously give out readings, which can help the doctor manage the process.

B)   Internal Fetal Rate Monitoring:

In cases where external Fetal heart rate monitoring is unreliable or not possible, doctors can opt for internal Fetal heart monitoring where they attach a wire to the baby’s scalp to continuously monitor their heart rate. This is done very rarely, only after labor has progressed enough to the stage where the scalp of the baby is accessible and is required because more precise monitoring is needed in case of obvious Fetal distress.

When Do I Get to Know The Results of the Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Test?

Fetal heart monitoring is an immediate test. Your doctor should have immediate insight into your baby’s well-being. However, in case they suspect anything, they might require you to undergo other tests for a confirmatory diagnosis.

Can Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Help Determine The Gender of The Baby?

Fetal heart rate monitoring is a test that checks the heart rate of the baby. Since there is no apparent difference in the heart rate of a male or female fetus, the fetal heart rate monitoring test can't help determine the sex of the baby.

Tests that can determine the sex of the baby are amniocentesis or other specific genetic marker tests that are performed only under strict physician guidance and recommendation. These tests are used in India only for diagnosing genetic abnormalities and not for sex determination. Sex determination of an unborn child is illegal in India; therefore, it is performed.

Conclusion

Fetal heart monitoring is a routine test that can help your physician with information about the baby’s well-being and growth. An abnormal heart rate does not necessarily indicate any trouble with the baby but should be better left to the evaluation of a physician. If you are looking to book a Fetal heart monitoring test, then reach out to us at Metropolis Healthcare now! We can match you with the best technicians and pathologists to make your experience hassle-free.