Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2014; 74 - PO_Geb12_12
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388237

Non-invasive fetal ECG detection during water births – a feasibility trial

J Reinhard 1, BR Hayes-Gill 2, MHR Eichbaum 1, S Schiermeier 3, F Louwen 4
  • 1St. Marienkrankenhaus, Frauenklinik, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
  • 2University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • 3Marien-Hospital Witten/Universität Witten/Herdecke, Frauenklinik, Witten, Germany
  • 4J. W. Goethe-University, Frauenklinik, Frankfurt, Germany

Objective: A non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor has been approved for clinical usage in labour and delivery. This is a feasibility trial to determine the fetal signal quality during water births using the non-invasive abdominal ECG.

Method: Three women were monitored using the Monica AN24™ during water births.

Results: Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring can be achieved using the non-invasive fetal ECG during water births.

Conclusion: To our knowledge this is the first case reported on non-invasive fetal ECG detection during water births. Further studies are required to determine the signal quality during both first and second stage of labour.