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!?! )

[rainbowdays]

yes they do!

[lou031205]

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.

[glimmer]

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...

[mummy2joshuarileyandbump]

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