Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring

Fetal Heart Monitoring

Results

Electronic fetal heart monitoring is done during pregnancy, labor, and delivery to keep track of the heart rate of your baby (fetus) and the strength and duration of the contractions of your uterus. The results of electronic fetal heart monitoring are usually available immediately.

Electronic fetal monitoring

Normal:	Your baby's heart rate is between 120 to 160 beats per minute.
	Your baby's heart rate increases (accelerates) when he or she moves and when your uterus contracts.
	Your baby's heart rate drops during a contraction but rapidly returns to normal after the contraction is over.
	Uterine contractions during labor are strong and regular.
Abnormal:	Your baby's heart rate is less than 120 beats per minute.
	Your baby's heart rate is more than 160 beats per minute.
	During a nonstress test, your baby's heart rate does not increase by 15 beats per minute or drops far below its baseline rate (deceleration) after he or she moves.
	During a contraction stress test, your baby's heart rate drops far below its baseline rate after each uterine contraction.
	Uterine contractions are weak or irregular during labor.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: September 5, 2006
Medical Review:	Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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