34wks, baby heart rate 186, then back down to 140-150 Anyone experienced this?

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I was sent home just told I was ok to go. I've not got any pregnancy related issues but I have been on antibiotics for a chest infection. Could this have caused it and if so what does that mean?

Has anyone experienced high fetal heartrate or are there any midwives/OBs out there who could tell me possible reasons?

Is there anything I should watch out for in particular in childbirth?

Here in Germany they plug us into the heart rate monitor for 30 minutes every apt from 32 weeks (2 weekly). They LIKE the heart rate to vary over the 30 minute session - with my 2nd child I was pregnant in hot, hot summer and his heart rate stayed steady on the monitor - I assumed that was good but they said it meant he was not moving about and immediately scanned me, and mainly concentrated on the placenta as they thought he might not be getting enough blood through it - he was fine, I think he was just sleepy as it was so very hot.

I had my first half hour on the monitor last apt and this baby was wriggling away (I could feel him) and the heart rate went all over the place, up into the 180s when he was wriggling, and down to 140 or so when not - he also wriggled away from the monitor for 30 seconds here and there. The technician thought this was excellent, and the doctor also nodded approvingly at the graph...

So - II am sorry I cannot tell from your post why you were in being monitored in the first place, as this probably has a bearing on why you are worried, but if you were monitored for a period of half an hour or more the raised rate was probably when baby was moving and the lower when he or she was resting.... So no reason at all to worry that I can see!

Hope that helps and I am sure you will also get replies from people with more knowledge rather than just anecdotal evidence!

I was sent to hospital only on the basis that fetal HR was 186 at a normal midwife appointment. It was good to hear your experience thank you...hopefully more people may share their experience too!

The baseline of the FH should be between 110-160 but its perfectly fine for there to be accelerations in the HR that go above 160bpm as long as it comes down to baseline and doesn't stay tachycardic. If baby is having a mad squirming session or something such as a contraction or an internal stimulates baby then that can cause HR to acclerate.

Thanks Viva are there any things I should look out for? I must admit to being a bit wound up before the midwife appointment, wonder if this might have caused it? I'm still hoping for a home birth.

I think that you need to trust that your midwife will know what to watch out for in labour with regards to the baby's FH. As a midwife there are times for instance that I'd be concerned about decelerations down past 110bpm and times that I wouldn't be concerned.

The most important thing you need to be aware of is baby's movements over hte next few weeks - that they're your normal pattern.

Thank you, how often do they use they heart monitor in a home birth?

Listen in to FH every 15 minutes.

if my midwife had wanted to check FHR every 15 mins i would have been mightily p**'d off! Not all do.

Viva I think you should be careful about stating things as fact based on your experience or what you do. Some poor labouring mum may panic because their midwife didn't do 15 min checks because they read on some website that that's what is done!

OP it sounds as if things weren't very well explained to you and this has left you feeling anxious. Discuss it with your midwife if you can and ask about monitoring during labour if you are still worried.

I had to go on monitor at 28wks after some bleeding. Was told the heart rate should go up whenever baby moves. Mine was jumping between 130s to 170s. Midwife told me this was normal as heart rate accelerates when baby moves then drops to a resting heart rate just like ours would with exercise.

I think the fact they checked you out and sent you home should be a relief so try to relax. Sure they would've told you what to look out for if they thought there was any chance of problems. Give them a call for reassurance if you're still worried.

NICE guidelines state that the FH should be listened in to every 15 minutes during labour and every 5 minutes during second stage. Sorry Bumble but thats the facts, not my fault if some midwives don't do this. There is plenty of research/evidence saying why its good practice to listen in that frequently.

Viva then maybe you should state that the nice guidelines recommend that not that that is what happens.

Bumble - stop telling me what to say. The OP asked a question and I answered it.

NHS trusts follow the NICE guidelines, the OP is talking about an NHS situation so that will be/should be what happens. If it isn't what happens then firstly the midwife involved would be facing a disciplinary at work and secondly its right that women know that this is considered best practice. Therefore if it isn't happening they can ask why.

Obviously if a woman chooses not to have the midwife listen in every 15 minutes as long as she's aware of the risks then thats her choice. If you would have been pissed off at 15min auscultation then thats your choice.