Fetal scalp electrode

[Kitkatz]

I've just had my first ANC appt, currently at 15 weeks but had an early one due to thyroid disease.. I've been told due to my high BMI (39) that I may need fetal scalp electrode monitoring during labour. I can't bear the idea of my baby having a metal prong in his head and am worried about scarring. Does anyone have any experience of this?

When I was a baby I was monitored in a similar way. There was a bump on my head afterwards, but the only time people noticed it was when I fell down and they were actively looking for bumps iykwim. It's still there as an adult, but it's small and not noticeable at all. I wouldn't worry about it - I'm sure that they are better at doing this than they were 30 odd years ago!

I had one of these I think. DS was passing meconium during a long labour and they needed to check him because they thought he may have been distressed.

It was fine. It may mean you can't be as active as you may otherwise be, but there was no damage to DS' little head, and it didn't interfere with labour. In fact, it was nice to know he was happy.

Is that a clip? Dd had a clip on her scalp during delivery which didnt cause any damage or discomfort for either of us. Anything to help get the baby out ok.in my book.

Thanks for your replies! I'm new on here- what does dd and ds stand for?! Thanks for your reassurance, I reckon this is going to be a stressful 6 months! X

Dd - dear daughter
ds - dear son
dp/dh - dear partner/husband

I imagine as it will be difficult for the midwifes to listen to heartbeat with Doppler and CFM (continuous fetal monitoring) done by straps that hold the dopplers onto your skin would probably not be an option. These are used by midwifes to give an indicator to how baby is dealing with labour. CFM isn't used in all labours but they like to listen in during labour every now and again and generally after every contraction during stage 2 (pushing).

No one has to consent to CFM though, are there other reasons you would be high risk? I had CFM during my first two labours as they were high risk inductions with syntocin, it is very restricting and I laboured much better with DD without any monitoring (this was because they didn't believe I was in labour, not because I wouldn't let them). They believed me when her head was born

Funny enough my mum had fetal scalp electrode with me, I've never noticed any bumps at all and I don't remember feeling a thing

I had one with DD as she had significant meconion staining in her waters.

It was less restrictive than the belts they were using before they put the clip on.

DD had the tiniest little pin prick scab on her head for a few days until it fell off. Nothing lasting.

ds had a clip as I was induced and he needed to be monitored, they started off with the on the bump monitors but I was moving about a bit (as much as you can attached to a drip and monitoring device things,) and they kept losing the trace. they popped a clip on his head which was like a think coil (bit like a mini key ring) which just left a couple of tiny holes on his head for a few days, I found this better as was able to move about a bit more whilst still getting a good trace so we knew ds was ok, in ideal world I would have preferred not to be induced or monitored but needs must and ds is now very happy and healthy 2 year old.

Oh, and I must be weird because I quite liked having it when I was pushing. It was a red and black electrical wire and I could see it moving with every push so I knew I was doing it right.

Igloo- no other risk factors. I think they like using them at my hospital- that's the impression I got. But it sounds like I was overreacting so maybe i'll just let them get on with their jobs! :)

I had it with my first baby and apart from a small scab on his head for a few days it left no trace.

I had been continuously monitored as it was an induction but when they kept losing the trace and he was getting distressed they went to the clip on his head.

I'd have said it was less restricting than the belts Tbh as you could walk around much easier. The belts tend to need you to sit in one position as otherwise they lost the trace!