Fetal Heart Rate and Fundal Height Measurement - St. Alexius College PDF

FETAL HEART RATE MONITORING ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph  FETAL HEART RATE Refers to the heartbeat of an unborn baby. It is a crucial indicator of the baby’s well-being during pregnancy. ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E...

FETAL HEART RATE MONITORING ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph  FETAL HEART RATE Refers to the heartbeat of an unborn baby. It is a crucial indicator of the baby’s well-being during pregnancy. ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph  FETAL HEART RATE  FHT monitoring is an essential part of prenatal care. It is usually done during: a. Routine prenatal check up: Using a handheld Doppler device b. During labor : Using Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) to continuously track the baby’s heart rate. ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph  IMPORTANCE OF FHT MONITORING Monitoring the fetal heart rate helps healthcare providers assess:  Fetal well-being: A normal heart rate indicates that the baby is receiving adequate oxygen and nutrients.  Labor progression: Changes in the fetal heart rate can provide clues about how the baby is tolerating labor.  Potential complications: Abnormal heart rate patterns may signal issues like fetal distress, which requires immediate attention. ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph  FACTORS AFFECTING FHR  Fetal activity: The heart rate tends to increase during periods of activity.  Maternal activity: The mother's movements or contractions can affect the fetal heart rate.  Medications: Certain medications can influence the fetal heart rate.  Fetal health: Issues like fetal distress or placental insufficiency can lead to abnormal heart rate patterns. ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph  FETAL HEART RATE MONITORING Normal FHT - 120-160 beats/min Doppler - 10-12 weeks AOG Fetoscope - 20 weeks AOG Stethoscope - 18-20 weeks AOG ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph FETAL HEART RATE MONITORING 1. Place stethoscope on the abdomen over the back or chest of the fetus. 2. Palpate maternal radial pulse to differentiate maternal heart rate from FHR. 3. Listen for and count the FHR for 1 full minute; note location and character. 4. Record FHR and refer any abnormalities. ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph FUNDAL HEIGHT MEASUREMENT ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph FUNDAL HEIGHT MEASUREMENT - Fundal height is the distance from the pubic bone to the uterine fundus (in centimeters). Purposes: - a tool used to gauge fetal growth - helps in determining the age of gestation ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph FUNDAL HEIGHT DEVIATIONS Causes of Fundal Height that is GREATER than expected: - multiple pregnancy - miscalculated due date - polyhydramnios - hydatidiform mole pregnancy ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph FUNDAL HEIGHT MEASUREMENT 1. Place the zero mark of the tape measure on the uppermost border of the symphysis pubis. 2. Run the tape measure along the midline of the woman’s abdomen up to the uterine fundus. 3. Document the distance in centimeters. ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph  Thanks for listening! Do you have questions? ST. A L E X I U S C O L L E G E www.stalexiuscollege.edu.ph