Technical question re. CTG machines

[Pinkmarshmallow]

I know CTG machines monitor fetal heartbeat and kicks/movement, but can they also tell if you are having contractions? (Hope this isn't too dumb a question!?! )

yes they do!

Yes, they have two discs on elasticated belts. One sits over the heart of the baby (roughly) and one sits at the top of your uterus.

The contractions are displayed as a number. So the higher the number, the more your uterus is contracting.

However, be warned - they display the contractions "after" the occurred, not in real time. (At least some machines). I couldn't feel any contractions while pushing (was induced and somebody had tuned the synto off) and asked if I was contracting, so that I could push during a contraction. They all thought I was little out-of-it and only later did I learn that they only know about the contraction after it has occurred. Sorry, more info that you had really asked for...

With pg 1&2 i found these machine's wonderful, for me they showed when I was going to have a contraction so could prepare myself, the % was something like 5 and when it started going up I knew a contraction was iminent...cue the G&A