Monitoring during labour

[Vicky1110]

Hello,

So I have been told I will have to have continuous CTG monitoring during labour due to gestational diabetes, I've not had this with previous pregnancies and so am a bit nervous/curious.
Will I still be able to move around with this or will I be made to just lay/sit still for the duration?

(I am not happy to sit still, in my last labour I was on my feet the whole time and it was a lot smoother and faster than my first labour, and so would like to do this again)

Thanks x

I gave birth 4 months ago and had GD and monitoring. You can move around but not very easily. I ended up with the monitoring, IV, epidural and catheter and so I could not move at all and had, thankfully, a c-section in the end due to baby's heart rate.

Your movement will be limited BUT your midwife should be able to help you stay as active as possible. Ask if there is a telemetry unit for the CTG as this is wireless and will be less constricting. Other options include a fetal scalp electrode BUT this means having your waters broken and it works by attaching the probe to your baby's head using a small hook.

Oh and the FSE isn't wireless so you will still be limited to the length of the wires but it is more accurate and it's connected directly to baby so should be less affected by movement