I really dislike the foetal monitor so can I opt for a doppler or other form of intermittent monitoring?
Of course. They will probably insist on fetal monitoring only if they have already intervened previously (i.e. synto drip or epidural). With Natty, I was only monitored with a doppler intermittently. (In the pushing stage, they would monitor her briefly between contractions which was still bloody annoying but much better than the fixed monitor!)