Pregnant mothers are always been delighted and excited to hear their babys heart beating, at their prenatal appointments. During their prenatal appointment, the obstetrician or physician uses an instrument called as fetal monitors or fetal Doppler in order for them to hear the heartbeat of their baby and to know the health status and the well being of their baby. The history of a fetal monitor was dated way back in 1958. The noted physician, Dr. Edward H. Hon, invented the first fetal monitor in 1958. This fetal monitor is a non invasive listening device that uses an echo of ultrasound waves to gather the babys heartbeat.
Under normal conditions, the sound waves are not readily picked up so when fetal monitors are used, the physician puts an aqueous gel or lotion to the mothers belly so that the probe can accurately detect high frequency sound waves. The probe is then moved around the mothers belly until the heartbeat of the baby is detected. When the high frequency sound wave is detected, subsequently it is sent from the probe of the fetal monitor which intensifies the sound for the mother to hear. The sound of the fetal heart beat is likely compared to the sound of the hoofs of the galloping horse. The fetal heart beat normally ranges from 140 to 160 beats per minute and approximately doubled compared to the maternal heart beat. Rushing wind sounds are also heard and in the latter part of pregnancy, even hiccups and kicks of the baby are likely audible. Hearing the fetal heart beat usually depends on different factors and techniques. When applied accurately and correctly, fetal monitors can usually detect and hear the heartbeat of the baby for as early as the 10th week of pregnancy or at the maximum of 12th week. Doctors and hospitals used several different types of fetal monitor. The most commonly applied fetal monitor device in hospitals and doctors clinics is the fetal monitor Doppler. This is a hand held fetal monitor device that picks up the heart beat of the baby inside the womb of the mother and subsequently transfer it through the speaker. One more commonly used fetal monitor device is the fetoscope. The fetoscope fetal monitor seems like the regular fetoscope. This fetal monitor fetoscope device is also used to detect the babys heartbeat at about eighteen weeks of pregnancy.
On the other hand, the fetal monitor Doppler and fetal monitor fetoscope are not relatively well known as the other methods of fetal monitoring. The fetal monitor Doppler and the fetal monitor fetoscope are an efficient substitute monitoring system for mothers who decide alongside with other monitoring methods. Some of these popular methods are the electronic fetal monitoring. Electronic fetal monitoring is performed while placing a belt like strap around the mothers belly. It provides continuous monitoring of fetal heart tones and the contractions of the mother. This electronic fetal monitor system is a lot similar to an ECG, which produces a constant paper strip that has a valuable printed record of the fetal heart tones and the mothers contractions available on it. Safety and security is one of the utmost concerns of most mothers especially when the health of their baby is concerned. Ever since in 1950, the ultrasound technology has been chiefly applied in obstetrics and gynecology and research say that upon application of this, no evidence or any harmful side effects on the mother and the baby was noted. The Food and Drug Administration legalized the application of ultrasound technology nowadays. Since fetal monitor is using an ultrasound probe, FDA has approved that a fetal monitor is safe and efficient for continuous use during the whole period of pregnancy. But of course, this statement does not definitely mean that mothers should use fetal monitor 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for monitoring their babys heartbeat. It is advised that mothers should use the fetal monitor in moderation. Application and examination of a fetal monitor should only take no more than 7 to 10 minutes and 2 to 3 times a week. Today, various companies offer different types of fetal monitor with various capabilities and options. One important aspect to consider before purchasing or renting a fetal monitor is to know which kind best fit for your exact requirement. There are two different type of fetal monitor available on the market, regular and digital. A regular type is usually very basic and will permit you to hear the heartbeat of your unborn child. However, a digital type also allows you to hear the heartbeat of your baby but with the added advantage to digitally display your babys heartbeat per minute. For instance, deciding which type you want to buy or rent is normally based on personal preference, except in some case of a multiple pregnancy. For this case, the mother is required to have a digital display to distinguish one baby from another.
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