Common examination items during pregnancy – how many weeks before fetal heart rate monitoring should be started
Pregnancy is a physiological process that every woman must go through. A series of examinations are required during pregnancy to ensure the safety and health of mother and baby. Fetal heart rate monitoring is one of the common pregnancy check-ups, but many pregnant women don’t know the appropriate number of weeks to start. This article will elaborate on this issue from four aspects.
What is fetal heart rate monitoring
Fetal heart rate monitoring is a method to determine whether the fetus is healthy by detecting the fetal heartbeat speed and rhythm. This test can be done with electrodes on the top of the baby\’s head or with a patch on the mother\’s skin. During the monitoring process, the doctor will record the fetal heart rate, fetal movements, and uterine contractions.
The purpose of fetal heart rate monitoring
The purpose of fetal heart rate monitoring is to ensure the safety of the fetus. By monitoring the fetal heartbeat, doctors can determine whether the fetus is hypoxic or in distress. When the fetus is in a state of hypoxia or distress, doctors need to take immediate measures to avoid adverse consequences.
Suitable for fetal heart rate monitoring
Fetal heart rate monitoring is suitable for all pregnant women, but it is more important for older pregnant women, pregnant women with pregnancy complications or high-risk factors. In addition, pregnant women whose gestation period exceeds 42 weeks also need fetal heart rate monitoring.
How many weeks to start fetal heart rate monitoring
The question that pregnant women are most concerned about is how many weeks to start fetal heart rate monitoring. Generally speaking, fetal heart rate monitoring can be performed when pregnant women have their first prenatal check-up at about 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, this time is not absolute. The doctor also needs to decide the examination time based on the specific situation of the pregnant woman.
Check frequency
The frequency of fetal heart rate monitoring depends on the specific situation of the pregnant woman. In the third trimester of pregnancy (after 36 weeks), it is usually performed once a week to monitor the condition of the fetus in a timely manner. However, for high-risk pregnant women, doctors will develop more detailed examination plans based on specific circumstances.
Can I perform fetal heart rate monitoring at home
Some pregnant women may want to perform fetal heart rate monitoring at home to better understand the condition of their fetus. However, since the accuracy and sensitivity of medical fetal heart rate monitors are different from those of home fetal heart rate monitors, and they require professional operating skills, it is recommended that pregnant women do not monitor fetal heart rate at home.
Notes
Before fetal heart rate monitoring, pregnant women need to fast and maintain urine emptying. When monitoring, pregnant women are advised to stay calm, relax, and breathe quickly and deeply to improve the stability of the fetal heart rate.
Conclusion
Fetal heart rate monitoring is one of the common examination items during pregnancy. It helps to detect fetal distress and hypoxia in a timely manner and is crucial to ensuring the health of the fetus. Pregnant women generally undergo fetal heart rate monitoring during prenatal check-ups, and the frequency of inspections generally applicable to pregnant women is once a week. However, fetal heart rate monitoring at home may not be reliable, and pregnant women are still advised to go to a professional hospital for examination.
