Continual Foetal Monitoring Question

[LordTumble]

Hello

Sorry this is a bit of a random/specific question. I was wondering if anyone had to have continual foetal monitoring during labour and if so whether you were able to stand up/move about or whether you were made to stay on a bed?

I was continually monitored with my first from arriving at the hospital and had to lay down and it made my contractions so much harder to deal with. If I had to have this again I would really like to try standing up but I'm not sure how plausible this is? I'm not even bothered about moving around, I just don't want to be stuck on the bed again

Any experiences would be very helpful.

I did with DD, they told me I couldn't get up but when the contractions got so bad I got up anyway so they had to adjust the monitor, it was just awful lying down, in the end they put a clip on baby's head to monitor instead, I just couldn't keep still good luck!!!

My local hospital have wireless ones now.

I will be having continuous monitoring (VBAC) but my hospital have telemetry monitors - wireless. They are even waterproof and can be used in the pool. Perhaps you could ask about these?

Oh wow not heard about the wireless monitors, that's amazing. I'll be sure to ask about those. Thanks everyone

Yes you can move whilst being continuously monitored. It can make it more difficult and sometimes you are asked to sit or something if they can't get a good reading. If you can have the clip on baby's head I would say go for it. Few hospitals do fetal ECG monitoring with this which is better than normal continuous monitoring, some just have a standard clip for contact... But much better IMO

You can say no to monitoring. Some hospitals insist on CFM due to policy. It's not compulsory. The choice is yours.

I'm not sure how I feel about declining it completely. With dd I had to have it as they weren't happy with her heart rate, with each contraction it was slowing practically to a stop and then taking ages to pick back up again. Otherwise I think they'd have just used intermittent monitoring. She was fine when she was born though, 9 on her apgar. Hopefully I won't even need it this time but I'll make sure to say I want to be able to stand if they do. Thanks all.

I gave birth abroad and had to have cfm as standard. The norm there is to stay on the bed, but I just stood up. They were machines with wires and belly straps, which sometimes slipped. I rocked and swayed, sat or stood as I felt the need. The only limitation was staying near the machine, so no pacing or walking. A few times they had to adjust the straps, but I viewed that as their problem, not mine.

Agree with PicandMix. You can say no or ask for intermittent monitoring (which I am requesting for my VBAC). You could also say you need to use the toilet every hour or so (get your husband to remind you!) and then you can at least move about. I wish our hospital had wireless monitors

There are no studies to show that CTG is more effective than Intermittent monitoring at picking up any abnormalities.
Being on the CTG alone increases the risk of unnecessary intervention.
How do you feel about agreeing to a trace and going well, having IM as long as mum and baby are well?

If you decide to go with the CTG, ask if your hospital has a telemetry device so you can use the pool, walk, move as you need to. :)

Becky