What is the average baby heart rate

You do not need any special care after external fetal heart monitoring. You may go back to your normal diet and activity unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.

The provider will clean the site with an antiseptic. Health Home Treatments, Tests and Therapies. Why might I need fetal heart monitoring?

Fetal heart rate monitoring may be used in other tests, including: Nonstress test. This measures the fetal heart rate as your baby moves. Contraction stress test. This measures fetal heart rate along with uterine contractions. Contractions are started with medicine or other methods. A biophysical profile BPP. This test combines a nonstress test with ultrasound. Things that may affect the fetal heart rate during labor: Uterine contractions Pain medicines or anesthesia given to you during labor Tests done during labor Pushing during the second stage of labor Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to use fetal heart rate monitoring.

What are the risks of fetal heart monitoring? Radiation is not used for this test. The transducer usually causes no discomfort. These include: Obesity of the mother Position of the baby or mother Too much amniotic fluid polyhydramnios Cervix is not dilated or the amniotic sac is not broken. Both of these need to happen to do internal monitoring How do I get ready for fetal heart monitoring?

Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you. Ask him or her any questions you have about the procedure. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is not clear. The consent form for fetal heart monitoring may be included as part of the general consent for labor and birth. Tell your healthcare provider if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, or anesthesia.

Bradycardia — when the heart rate is below the normal low range for a child's age. In children, two of the most common types are:. Infants with abnormal heart rhythms may seem extra irritable or fussy, have feeding difficulties, appear pale, and lack energy.

Older children tend to have more specific symptoms such as feeling a fluttering or pounding known as heart palpitations, lightheadedness or fainting , chest pain or discomfort, and difficulty breathing.

If your child's doctor suspects a heart rhythm problem after the physical exam, he or she will recommend cardiac testing , which may include:. Your pediatrician will likely refer you to a pediatric cardiologist for follow up. A pediatric electrophysiologist, who specializes in testing for heart rhythm disorders, may also be part of your child's care team. Although heart rhythm disorders can be worrisome, treatments and cures are available. Many heart rhythm problems can be controlled with medications.

Implantable devices such as artificial pacemakers can also help keep heart rhythms regular. Other options include corrective surgery and other procedures such as radiofrequency ablation , which uses radio waves to heat up certain heart cells in the heart to prevent them from letting electrical currents through.

Christopher S. He is also a member of the Ohio AAP chapter. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Turn on more accessible mode. Turn off more accessible mode. Skip Ribbon Commands. Skip to main content. Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Our Sponsors Log in Register. Log in Register.

Ages and Stages. Healthy Living. Safety and Prevention. This test is performed during an internal examination and it is recommended as being the most accurate way of detecting whether your baby is in difficulty. The doctors can use this information to decide whether your baby needs to be delivered by caesarean birth or it may prevent an unnecessary caesarean birth.

It remains your choice as to what kind of monitoring you have during your labour. It might be helpful to consider:. Listening to your Baby's Heartbeat. What is the midwife listening to? These areas include the:. To measure the pulse at the wrist, place the index and middle finger over the underside of the opposite wrist, below the base of the thumb. Press with flat fingers until you feel the pulse.

To measure the pulse on the neck, place the index and middle fingers just to the side of the Adam's apple, in the soft, hollow area.

Press gently until you locate the pulse. Note: Sit or lie down before taking the neck pulse. The neck arteries in some people are sensitive to pressure. Fainting or slowing of the heartbeat can result. Also, do not take the pulses on both sides of the neck at the same time. Doing so can slow the flow of blood to the head and lead to fainting. Once you find the pulse, count the beats for 1 full minute. Or, count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.

This will give the beats per minute.