Foetal Monitoring During Labour.

[satya]

I was never put on a CTG machine and I had a 17 hour labour. Different hospital though. I only had gas & peth, it might make a difference if you have an epidural (don't know).

[Snacks]

I didn't have CTG either. But they did occasionally listen to her with the doppler, particularly in the second stage as for me that took around 1.5 hours. They'd listen to her after every contraction.
I think you're well within your rights to ask to not have the CTG.

[littleberlin]

Thank you so much for all your responses! I'm preparing for a natural and active birth, so I am happy to hear that there are less restrictive methods of checking up on baby during labour. I think that if the option exists to refuse even intermittent monitoring (if all is going well), then that is something I would prefer to do. I think, for me personally, monitoring or internal examinations would just put the pressure on. It's so nice to be reminded that when you do enter a hospital to give birth you aren't just at the mercy of protocol and procedure, and you are able to exercise your right of choice. Thank you!

[Snacks]

It's a good idea to stay at home for as long as you can in that case

[BellyBelly]

Intermittent fetal monitoring with a doppler is standard at hospital or home, so if you are talking about continuous CTG, then the studies all say that all that results in is higher c/s rates without improving outcomes. So why is it used? Well, if they get sued, they have proof on record that there was something on the read out that concerned them, so they did something about it.

[Liviam]

Here here Kelly!!! Beautifully said!!!!

I was induced as my waters broke and I couldn't go into labour so I had to be monitored continously on a CTG. It was hospital policy and I couldn't get out of it (and I work there, GGGRRRRR!!!!!!). I still had an active upright labour and spent hours in the shower.

Fingers crossed you get a much much better response than I did and you get your intermittent monitoring.

[blue daisy]

continuous fetal montinoring or CTG's has been introduced into 'standard' care in labor for a variety of reasons (inductions, epidurals. percieved risk)...but there is not any evidence based practise for this...CTG's increase medical intervention but do not increase health outcomes for mother and baby

intermittent monitoring remains the best way to check your baby during labor, most mw's will want to check this every 15 mins or so once you are in established labor

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