Intermittent auscultation fetal monitoring practice in different UK birth settings: a cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring is used to assess fetal wellbeing throughout labour. The interpretation of fetal heart rate patterns during labour informs decisions about clinical management and intervention. The World Health Organisation and other professional health care bodies recommend intermittent auscultation (IA) for monitoring the fetal heart rate for women with uncomplicated labour. Despite this there is little research on how IA is carried out in practice. This study aimed to describe IA practice across different birth settings in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods

We conducted an online cross-sectional survey between November 2022 and February 2023. The survey explored whether local guidance on IA was in place; the frequency of IA training and com

SUBMITTER: Douthwaite M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11995465 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature