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Assessing the preference of women for different methods of monitoring the fetal heart in labour


L Mangesi
GJ Hofmeyr
D Woods

Abstract

Objective. To assess which of three different methods of monitoring the fetal heart in labour was preferred by labouring women.
Method. Ninety-nine women in the first stage of labour were enrolled into a prospective clinical study to compare their preference for fetal monitoring with a Pinard fetal stethoscope, an innovative wind-up Doppler ultrasound fetal
heart rate monitor, and cardiotocography.
Result. Significantly more women preferred the fetal heart rate monitor to the other two methods (p=0.001).
Conclusion. Intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart during labour with a fetal monitor is more acceptable to labouring women than monitoring with a Pinard fetal stethoscope or a cardiotocograph.

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eISSN: 2305-8862
print ISSN: 0038-2329