Continuous monitoring via belly straps or fetal scalp clip?

[pandarific]

I'm trying to work out my preferences in the case that I had to be induced via the drip and so had to be continuously monitored - and I'm getting a bit confused about the range of motion each allows.

I've got some rebozo/active birth moves I'm keen to use if possible which use squatting, swaying, all fours etc and I've read on here that (though you need to be dilated enough and have had your waters go to have it), that the fetal scalp clip is pretty good. From what I've read once it's in you can forget about it and shift into different positions fairly easily without being told off and to stay still. Is that the case? Also, how long is the 'lead' and does it attach to a monitor?

If possible I'm leaning toward asking for this rather than the belts as I've read so much about having to stay still / being pretty limited in movement with these - but is there anything else we should be aware of before I put it down in my preferences?

(I know wireless monitoring is supposedly an option but I asked about it at the NHS childbirth session we went to and the midwife either said they didn't have any at our hospital, or that they were rubbish and didn't work - can't remember which exactly but it wasn't encouraging!)

Wireless if at all possible - but sounds like it might not be.

When I was in labour last time (3 hours) they forgot about the monitoring until the end but the assistant OB basically just held the monitor on me without straps at the end. Maybe a combo of that and intermittent monitoring?

I was able to sit on a ball and move around the bed with both straps and head clip. Swapped to head clip though as straps occasionally lost heartbeat, clip fell off a couple of times too.

I've had both. The belly straps kept moving once I advanced in labour so they kept losing DD's heart rate.

Had the scalp monitor with DD after that and with DS. It really reduced my movement options. Think of it as a tampon string hooked to a big box beside you. It isn't a long lead. I had pretty much only option to birth on my back or, with much manipulation of lead and my legs, go on all fours. It wasn't comfortable or really designed to be so.

You may not actually get a choice - if the straps slip or the baby moves a lot during labour then that option may not be used. And wireless head clip may not be offered in your place of birth.

I heartily recommend not over thinking it. M y approach to labour second time around was to make no plans other than to have a live birth. I made no plans abkut how I wanted the labour to be or what I envisaged would happen. I just made the best decision as each one was presented to me.

I started with straps and had head clips later as although you can move - if you lost the heartbeat they want it back ASAP so ask you to get into a position to do that. One of my (more experienced) midwives was happy to just hold it on to monitor every half hour for a few mins but others weren’t very impressed by that (both my births were induced with the drip).
The fetal clip was better - I did pull it out once during my first birth (by mistake when moving) but when they put it back they saw I was 10cm (weren’t going to check for hours!) so I was rather pleased I’d pulled it out because I could then start pushing!

I 've had both and much prefer the belly straps.

My clip allowed for a reasonably movement. It is attached to a monitor but the lead was decent. They had to unclip it for me to use the loo.

So both options are pretty shit then? Hmmm.

I'm definitely not 'overthinking' anything - I've got preferences for lots of different scenarios,as anything can happen on the day. For me it's about being aware of the ins and outs of the different options so I can make decisions that are best for me and the baby on the day.

I had the belly strap. I didn't stop moving during labour/pushing stage and gave birth squatting on the floor (albeit not that far from the machine I was hooked up to). However, I didn't have the strap put on until maybe an hour or so before I started pushing and I had no desire at that point to be pacing around etc. I just ended up going on and off the bed, leaning over it, on all fours and walking around the bed. Also I pushed for a bit using a birthing stool.

I was induced 48 hours ago so this is very fresh in my head. In my case they tried the wireless monitoring but every time I moved around (walking or using ball) the signal was lost. In the end they used the straps and the midwife had to sit and hold them because they kept slipping as labour advanced. In addition they didn't actually pick up the full strength of my contractions so had to use other ways to determine what was happening (the distance between contractions, the amount I was struggling with pain and whether there was a purple line/how much up the back of my bottom/lower back), however this only told them so much. The midwives monitoring the machines from outside the room decided that they needed baby monitoring with a head clip. I was very much asked for my consent and so it was optional, but was also presented as the best option for baby. I had the clip which attaches like a little pin prick but doesn't hurt baby. Not sure on length and I didn't try to move around much because at this point I'd had an epidural and was fairly restricted.

All in all for us it was the best decision and as it happens quite important because in the end baby was delivered very quickly, which they hadn't anticipated and so the clip was helpful in that respect too.

I say keep an open mind about as much as you can.

@elliejjtiny Interesting! Why did you prefer the belly straps?

I've had continuous monitoring with both previously induced births.

With my last I had straps and was able to stand at bed / wander around room /squat and move as much as I could given the pain I was in. We had no problems with connectivity etc.

Having had the clip on babies head first time round I much preferred this second time round as once on labour ward I didn't even have an vaginal examinations so was nice just being able to get on with what I was doing (it was quite obvious labour was progressing quickly haha) and not have invasive examinations / get back on bed to allow for adjustments etc.

Although as a previous poster said you may not always get much choice depending on what monitoring is available at the time.

There is also a small risk of infection to the baby so you may need to consider this as well

Thanks all, this is very useful to know! I think if I get into that situation I may see how I get on with the bands first, and then if they're not working out see if we can try the clip.

With the belly straps I could take them off to use the loo and I think I pulled them off in transition with dc2 and dc3 because they were annoying me. With the clip on the baby's head the midwife said I had to keep the monitor on and use a commode if I needed the loo (I ended up refusing to drink anything to try and avoid needing to go) and also I was scared to move much in case I dislodged the clip and hurt the baby. Reading back they are both fairly silly reasons for preferring the belly straps but they felt like important reasons at the time.

You may find your baby has their own preference. My DD hated the straps - she kicked against them and writhed constantly if they were on which combined with the contractions and her being back to back was unbearable. Head clip much easier.