Fetal cardiotocography is a test performed during pregnancy to check the baby’s heart rate and well-being, performed with sensors connected to the pregnant party’s belly that collect this information, being especially indicated for pregnant women from 37 weeks or in the period near delivery.
This test may also be done during labor to monitor the baby’s health at this time, as well as evaluate a woman’s uterine contractions.
- Fetal cardiotocography tests should be done in clinics or obstetric units.
- Which contain test-ready devices and doctors.
- And have an average cost of R$150.
- Depending on clinic and location.
To perform fetal cardiotocography, electrodes with sensors are placed at the tip, subjected by a kind of strap on the woman’s belly, which capture all the activity inside the uterus, be it the baby’s heart rate, movements or contractions of the uterus.
It is a test that does not cause pain or discomfort to the mother or the fetus, however, in some cases, when it is suspected that the baby moves little, it may be necessary to perform a stimulus to wake him up or shake him, so the cardiotocography can be done in 3 ways:
The test lasts about 20 minutes and the woman sits or goes to sleep at rest until sensor information is recorded on the graph, on paper, or on the computer screen.
Fetal cardiotocography can only be indicated after 37 weeks for a preventive evaluation of your baby’s heart rate.
However, it may be indicated at other times if these changes in the baby are suspected or when the risk is increased, such as in the following situations:
Thus, with this scan it is possible to intervene as quickly as possible, in case of changes in the well-being of the baby, caused for example by suffocation, lack of oxygen, fatigue or arrhythmias.
This evaluation may be done at different times of pregnancy, such as
Tests performed during this test are part of the fetal vitality assessment set, as well as others such as doppler ultrasound, which measures blood circulation in the placenta, and fetal biophysical profile, which takes several steps to observe the baby’s good development. Learn more about the tests for the third trimester of pregnancy.
To interpret the test result, the obstetrician will evaluate the graphs formed by the sensors, either on a computer or on paper.
Thus, in case of a change in the baby’s vitality, cardiotocography can identify:
1. Changes in fetal heart rate, which may be of the following types
2. Changes in fetal movement, which can be reduced when they indicate suffering;
3. Changes in the contraction of the uterus, observed during childbirth.
Generally these changes occur due to lack of oxygen in the fetus, resulting in a decrease of these values, so in these situations treatment will be indicated by the obstetrician depending on the time of pregnancy and the severity of each case, which can be with weekly follow-up, hospitalization or the need to anticipate delivery, with C-section for example.