CTG/fetal monitoring at 24 weeks

[bumbly]

Does anyone know why my local hospital told me they can't monitor your baby's heart by CTG until at least 26 weeks pregnant?

Am curious to know if others have been told the same?

;)

Message withdrawn

All the research about interpreting the CTG trace is based on 37 weeks + so they don't really know what is normal at 24 weeks. Also if it was abnormal what would they do? would it be worse for the baby to be born so early or to stay inside? Basically what I am saying is the CTG would not affect the management of the pregnancy so there is no point in doing it.

CTG = cardiotocography

A heart scan also used during labour to monitor fetal stress wrt to contraction

I understand question of what could one do so early if anything detected .... but what about simply administrating medicines to stabilze heart beat etc?

Surely that is better than doing nothing if something is found?

What a load of the proverbial, they had a CTG on me from 22 weeks onwards (I went into premature labour - thankfully stopped). They gave me drugs too!

Also, if the feotus didn't survive (sorry to bring this up) but if they didn't use a CTG, they wouldn't find out very quickly and you could get septis.

Sepsis obviously.

doctor found slow and abnormal heart beat before easter

been worried sick

and been abandoned basically by everyone..midwife did pop by and say she reckonedheartnbeat was ok but i still have two differing medical opinions...

rang hospital and their precise words were they won't see you before 26 weeks for heart monitoring

hence my query

not a happy bunny at the moment

Bumbly,

Hi again. If I were you I would just go to the hospital rather than continue to wait around. If you are concerned they won't just turn you away once you're there...they will help put your mind at rest.

Bumbly, I'd personally be more inclined to believe the midwife, but go to the your hospital anyway, you don't need an appointment, just turn up and sit there till they see you - they WILL see you and put you on a CTG but it may take a few hours.

Good luck.

I was in hospital from 21 weeks and had my baby at 24 weeks and was always told they could not use a CTG until much later on (about 27weeks) as the baby is too small prior to that to get an accurate reading. Even when I was in labour they used a hand held devise to listen to his heartbeat, I think they are used a droppler.