What this is about
We monitor your baby’s wellbeing by checking their heart rate. In certain circumstances during pregnancy and labour continuous fetal heartbeat monitoring is performed using a machine called a CTG (cardiotocography). The CTG records your baby’s heartbeat and, during labour, your contractions. The CTG trace can be recorded on paper or digitally. Monitoring and interpreting the heart rate pattern can help to provide reassurance that your baby is well or let us know if they need extra help.
What we are doing
- We have a dedicated fetal wellbeing midwife who reviews cases, provides training and gives individual feedback to staff to continuously improve practice.
- We check CTG traces at regular intervals and use a ‘fresh eyes’ approach where a second midwife or doctor reviews the trace independently to make sure nothing is missed.
- If the trace shows any concerns about your baby’s wellbeing, we have clear procedures for escalating care quickly to a doctor.
How this helps you
By monitoring your baby’s heart rate carefully and catching any problems early, we can make timely decisions about your care. This might mean taking steps to help your baby during labour or arranging a quicker delivery if needed.
Our progress
This work has been so successful that it is now embedded as standard practice across our maternity services. Our most recent audits show that CTG monitoring frequency, escalation when needed, and fresh eyes reviews are happening for nearly every woman in our audit sample at both the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and St John’s Hospital. We continue to review every case where a baby is born and needs extra support, so we can keep learning and improving.
What you can do
If you have questions about the monitor or what the trace shows, ask your midwife to explain it to you. If you notice your baby is moving less than usual, or if the pattern of movements has changed, contact your maternity unit straight away. It’s important to get checked even if everything was fine last time.
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