Whether you have just found out that you are pregnant with your first child, are in the middle of your pregnancy journey, or are a veteran mother carrying your third child, you have already realised that you will be examined by doctors and nurses more times than you can count. There will be urine tests, blood tests, ultrasounds, genetic screening, and much more.
This article will focus on the role that a fetal heart rate monitor will play in your pregnancy journey, what they can tell you about your baby’s health, and why you should consider investing in an at-home fetal heart rate monitor.
When is a Fetal Heart Rate Monitor Used?
There are essentially two phases in which a fetal heart rate monitor is used. Each of these phases requires its use for different reasons. The two phases and why they make use of a fetal heart rate monitor consist of:
- Prenatal: Throughout your pregnancy, your physician should make use of a heart rate monitor during checkups, especially if one is dealing with a high-risk pregnancy with complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure or any other abnormalities.
- Labour: During labour, a fetal heart rate monitor can assist in identifying when contractions are occurring, what the length of each contraction is, and the amount of stress that your new baby is going through. Thus, it is a lovely safety precaution during the birthing process.
What a Fetal Heart Rate Monitor Can Tell You
A fetal heart rate monitor can provide one with a bunch of information that can be useful in determining the health of your baby. Some of the information and benefits of fetal heart monitoring can include:
- Health: Not only does a fetal heart rate monitor reveal whether there is a heartbeat or not, but it can also provide information on the heart rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. This can shed some light on the general health of your growing baby.
- Connection: There is something special about hearing the heartbeat of your unborn child. It makes it real and allows you to start connecting to your baby.
At-Home Fetal Heart Rate Monitor App
Typically, one would only encounter a fetal heart rate monitor in the doctor’s office; however, there is an at-home fetal heart rate monitor available and the best part is it comes with an app!
This app will be able to record and display the results from the monitoring device. It also allows you to share the results with a family member or your physician. This gives you easy access to information and allows you to check in on your baby whenever you desire!