What it means
A method of fetal heart rate monitoring for low-risk labor. The nurse places a hand-held device on the abdomen and counts the fetal heart rate for a set time, before, during and after contractions, at regular intervals. It lets the laboring person move around freely. If the rate is abnormal, continuous electronic monitoring is started.
For the nurse
Feel for the contraction at the same time so you know where the count falls, and chart the rate, rhythm and any increases or decreases you hear. Follow the facility's schedule for how often to listen in each stage of labor.
Related terms
auscultation
Listening to the sounds inside the body, usually with a stethoscope.
amniotic fluid
The fluid inside the amniotic sac that surrounds and protects the baby during pregnancy.
childbirth
The process of giving birth to a baby, through the vagina or by cesarean surgery.