Pregnancy & Fetal monitoring

Your care provider may send you to the hospital or order fetal monitoring in the office. Two monitors may be placed on your abdomen and secured with a loose strap. One monitor will assess and trace uterine activity and the other will evaluate your baby's heart beat at that time. This is external fetal monitoring. In labor, other internal monitors may be used if deemed necessary by your health care provider. Did you know the normal fetal heart rate at term is between 110-160 beats a minute? A Doppler or device like a stethoscope can also be used to monitor fetal heart tones.