Is it normal for fetal heart rate to go up and down

Your pregnancy is high risk if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. It is also high risk if your baby is not developing or growing as it should. Fetal heart rate monitoring may be used to check how preterm labor medicines are affecting your baby. These are medicines are used to help keep labor from starting too early. You may find the elastic belts that hold the transducers in place slightly uncomfortable.

These can be readjusted as needed. You must lie still during some types of fetal heart rate monitoring. You may need to stay in bed during labor. With internal monitoring, you may have some slight discomfort when the electrode is put in your uterus. Note: You should not have internal fetal heart rate monitoring if you are HIV positive. This is because you may pass the infection on to your baby.

You may have other risks depending on your specific health condition. Be sure to talk with your provider about any concerns you have before the procedure.

Certain things may make the results of fetal heart rate monitoring less accurate. These include:. You may have fetal heart rate monitoring in your healthcare provider's office or as part of a hospital stay.

The way the test is done may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices. You do not need any special care after external fetal heart monitoring.

You may go back to your normal diet and activity unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. The provider will clean the site with an antiseptic. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. Why might I need fetal heart monitoring? Fetal heart rate monitoring may be used in other tests, including: Nonstress test. This measures the fetal heart rate as your baby moves. Contraction stress test.

This measures fetal heart rate along with uterine contractions. Contractions are started with medicine or other methods. A biophysical profile BPP.

This test combines a nonstress test with ultrasound. Things that may affect the fetal heart rate during labor: Uterine contractions Pain medicines or anesthesia given to you during labor Tests done during labor Pushing during the second stage of labor Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to use fetal heart rate monitoring. What are the risks of fetal heart monitoring? Radiation is not used for this test. If your baby is not coping well, this may well be reflected in the pattern of their heartbeat.

Which method will be used? National guidelines NICE- National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommend the use of EFM in the following circumstances: Your baby from external assessment seems smaller than expected You have high blood pressure You are expecting twins or triplets You had a caesarean birth with any of your previous pregnancies Your labour has been induced for any reason on this list.

Your baby is overdue more than 42 weeks Your baby is premature before 37 weeks. EFM will also be recommended in the following circumstances: You have a health problem such as; Diabetes; problems with your heart or kidneys or infection Your baby is breech presentation going to be born bottom first.

What are the benefits and risks? Do I have a choice on the type of monitoring? It might be helpful to consider: The hand held doptone can be used whatever position you are in; you can therefore move around as much as you like during labour and it can also be used if you are labouring in water.

Pregnancy is an important milestone with a lot of choices and questions. Learn all you can to make the…. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Recovering from Delivery Postpartum Recovery. Path to improved health Your doctor will want to monitor your baby during labor. External monitoring The simplest form of monitoring is called auscultation. Internal monitoring In this method, an electrode attached to a wire is placed directly on the baby.

What kind of monitoring do I need? Auscultation is generally considered an acceptable form of monitoring if: Your pregnancy is low-risk. You will need continuous monitoring if: You have a high-risk pregnancy. Complications develop during labor. You have an epidural for pain. Indications that everything with the baby is fine include: Heartbeat between and beats per minute.

Heart rate increases when baby moves. Heart rate increases during contractions. Heart rate returns to normal after baby moves or after a contraction. Your contractions are strong and regular during labor. Signs that there could be a problem include: Heartbeat is less than beats per minute. Heartbeat is more than beats per minute.

What if my doctor detects a problem? Giving you more fluids through an IV. Giving you supplemental oxygen. Giving you medicine to relax your uterus. This decreases your contractions.

Infusing sterile fluid into your uterus if your water has broken. Questions to ask your doctor Do you require fetal heart rate monitoring during labor? What are the advantages and disadvantages of it? Do I need continuous electronic fetal monitoring?