Has anyone had any positive experience of continuous EFM?

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Both my midwife and consultant have persuaded me to have continuous electronic fetal monitoring throughout labour as I'm trying for a VBAC. I've heard negative things about it...does anyone have any positive things to say about it at all? I'm getting worried about just repeating the cascade of interventions that was my last labour

thanks for your help!

Yes have had continuous electronic monitoring with both mine, somehow they managed it with me on the birthing ball / rocking chair etc. They CAN do it with you moving around they just have to be a bit careful not to dislodge it. Had successful VB minor tears with both.
I also asked not to hear it - it puts me right off listening to that heartbeat especially when the damn thing slips or something!

Cheers Owlingate. Judging by yours being the only response I'm guessing not loads of people have had brilliant experience of it - but really nice to know someone has. I think I'll go with your suggestion on the audible heart beat...

Perhaps I should bring some sellotape in my hospital bag

bumping as also wanted to ask similar question!

I am hoping to have a vbac later this year.

Just a couple of thoughts.

1. NICE guidelines have shown no improvement in outcomes for mother or child if continuous monitoring is used over using a handheld doppler every 15 minutes.

1. Continuous monitoring only picks up between 50 and 84% of ruptures.

1. Continuous monitoring is only truly continuous if a midwife is continuously watching the monitor.

1. There are new waterproof portable continuous monitoring devices. Apparently some hospital have these type of monitors, might be worth asking if your hospital has any. Assuming you want to be continuously monitored of course.

1. A maternal pulse rate will show problems up to 20 minutes before the continuous monitor. Hence having a midwife in the room with you, is a lot more valuable to your health than continuous monitoring.

I was continuously monitored in my first labour but it is not a positive story so I won't repeat it here.

Good luck in your vbac

I had continuous monitoring, as my waters had broken early and I wasn't dilating, and ob wanted to make sure baby didn't go into distress. Ended up with mobile epidural and on syntocinon drip. Within a couple of hours was fully dilated, baby came out after 20 minutes of pushing, I had just a tiny little tear. Was very relieved to be able to see the tiny heart beating regularly throughout the whole process.

I had cfm when dd2 was born, i had been put on syntocinon as my labour wasn't progressing

it was fine, i was able to stand up and move about a bit (as much as the drip and my contractions would allow me to)

there was no way i could have laid on the bed it was just too painful,i didn't lie down until i was pushing

it wasn't a vbac though

and babieseverywhere as usual gives v good advice, well researched, about the benefits (or lack thereof) of interventions and procedures in childbirth

and i have to say that you have to

a) be lucky with your midwife - mine was happy to listen to my preferences and not push the standard routine on me, i think that the medical staff would have preferred me to have had an epidural (possibly due to the volume of the noises i was making lol) and to lie on the bed but they were willing to accept that i preferred not to do that

b) be prepared to stand up for yourself - refuse any intervention or suggestions that you know you don't want and need

good luck

I had continuous fetal monitoring and could still move around just fine! MWs were even encouraging me to move more. I had to have IV antibiotics though and a syntocin drip and that prevented movement. Monitoring was no problem.

Had cfm for a vbac a month ago, i wasn't mad keen on it beforehand but managed to ignore it as it was out of sight and a lot quieter than the noise I was making! Also I was v glad I had cfm as DS2's heartbeat dipped and they would have had to do a cesection had I not pushed a bit harder and got him out. I would have it again but ignore it.