New Types of Fetal Monitoring Technology: What to Consider When Purchasing

Here's how to choose the right one. In the world of obstetrics, the types of fetal monitoring technology have advanced significantly throughout the years. If you've been on the obstetrics floor for a while, you've probably heard stories from veteran nurses and doctors who remember the days when women would show up to give birth, only to surprise everyone and deliver twins.

It's hard to imagine a time when so much about pregnancy and labor was a mystery given that in today's world, pregnancy is a closely monitored affair. Notably, the right type of fetal monitoring makes all the difference for pregnant women and their birthing outcomes.

If you're looking to invest in a new fetal monitoring system for your team, here are some aspects to consider.

Types of Fetal Monitoring Systems

Typically, there are three different types of fetal monitoring systems that labor care providers can choose from, including the following:

• External labor monitoring. This kind of monitoring uses ultrasound and pressure-sensitive technology to measure and record fetal heart rate (FHR) and contractions.
• Internal labor monitoring. This relies on fetal scalp electrodes to measure FHR and an intrauterine pressure catheter for contractions.
• Noninvasive fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) and electromyography (EMG) monitoring. Like the Novii Wireless Patch System, this type of monitoring involves a waterproof wireless patch with ECG electrodes that transmit maternal heart rate and FHR, as well as uterine activity via Bluetooth signals to a monitor interface.

Depending on your patient population, budget constraints, and staff availability, you may be able to choose multiple systems. For instance, your unit may have traditional external labor monitoring and a few rooms equipped with fECG and EMG wireless monitoring. Or, you may be able to mix and match older systems that work best for your unit while slowly upgrading technology over time.

What Will the Right Fetal Monitoring System Do?

In order to aptly choose between fetal monitoring systems, you'll need to weigh the pros and cons of cost versus benefits, budget constraints, patient population, and efficacy. As you shop for one that fits the needs of both your staff and patients, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Include Product Support and Training

Utter the words "new system training" anywhere on the floor and watch your nurses scatter. It's no secret that system upgrades, new electronic medical records, and product trainings are deprioritized and somewhat unpopular activities in the midst of busy clinical care. This is why it's important to consider the learning curve and product training support available.

Before investing, find out what online resources, on-site training, and ongoing product support are offered with the unit. Ask questions like these:

• Will a product support specialist be available?
• What hours can they be reached?
• Can the company provide on-site as well as virtual training?

You'll also need to consider BioMed serviceability and how the equipment will be updated and maintained. Making the transition to new technology as seamless as possible for labor care providers can help with the successful adoption of the product.

2. Consider the Patient Experience

In addition to ensuring you choose technology that supports your team, you'll want to address your patients' needs, as well. Consider your patient population and their requests and concerns regarding fetal monitoring. For instance, ask the following:

• Are your patients consistently looking for more opportunities to ambulate during labor?
• Are they choosing other birthing facilities that offer more hydrotherapy options because they have waterproof fetal monitoring?
• Do satisfaction scores reflect any discomfort as a result of current types of fetal monitoring?

Listen to your patients and choose technology that can support the needs of your floor while offering the birthing experience your patients desire.

3. Follow Industry Trends

You don't have to upgrade every time a new model is released, but it is important to be aware of shifts in the market. That way, you can stay current and meet both provider and patient monitoring expectations.

According to data compiled by Allied Market Research in the fall of 2020, trends in fetal monitoring technology are moving toward wireless monitoring systems, as well as systems that are portable and noninvasive.¹ These systems are expected to grow in popularity because they are safe, effective, and patient-friendly.

4. Meet Best Practices

When it comes to choosing the types of fetal monitoring for your facility, it's important to ensure that it supports positive birth outcomes. For example, clinical guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the World Health Organization encourage frequent position changes for low-risk laboring mothers, which warrants a fetal monitoring system that can support mobility during labor.^2,3

In fact, the ACOG notes that during the first stage of labor, women who walked or maintained upright positions—including walking, sitting, standing, and kneeling—had shorter labors of about 1 hour and 22 minutes compared to supine-positioned women. They were also less likely to have a C-section, and they displayed fewer abnormal fetal heart patterns during the second stage of labor.²

5. Complement Care

Upgrading to the latest technology is great, but so is equipment that actually works when you need it to work. Despite the allure of fancy fetal monitoring technology, you'll want to look into the real-life user experience from labor nurses' perspectives. Does the monitor stay put? Is it hard to position? What happens when hydrotherapy is used? Are you getting strip interference? The right technology should complement and free up providers to deliver optimal care—not malfunction or take excess time to operate or troubleshoot.

So, ask for input from the nurses who typically run this equipment. These general tips can help guide your thinking, but there's nothing more valuable than feedback from an everyday user. It will help ensure that you invest in the best fetal monitoring product for your team's specific needs, so everyone can continue focusing on delivering the best possible care.

References:

1. Sagar M, Apoorva S, Onkar S. Fetal monitoring market: Global opportunity analysis and industry forecast, 2020-2027. Allied Market Research. https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/fetal-monitoring-market. Accessed November 3, 2022.
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Approaches to limit intervention during labor and birth. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth. Accessed November 3, 2022.
3. The World Health Organization. Intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/272447/WHO-RHR-18.12-eng.pdf. Accessed November 3, 2022.