What are the different types of fetal heart monitoring methods or devices?
Fetal heart monitoring can be categorized as external and internal methods. The external fetal monitoring can be performed by a stethoscope and Fetal Heart Doppler. A Fetal Heart Doppler measures FHR through continuous ultrasonic waves and thus helps people determine the situation of the fetus. Fetal Doppler gives a clearer heart beat of the fetus than the stethoscope and can detect and pick up the fetal heart beat after 8 weeks gestation with 2MHz & 3MHz probes. The fetal Doppler with 2MHz probe works better for overweight women or women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The reflection of a 3MHz probe is better than the lower frequency 2 MHz except in above conditions. When we are monitoring fetal heart rate with a Fetal Heart Doppler, an average normal fetal heart rate should be between 120-180 BPM (Beats Per Minute). If the heart beat is not within the range, then the fetus may be in abnormal condition, such as cord compression, fetal hypoxia, fetal distress and fetal heart block
