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Printable page generated Thursday, 11 Nov , Use 'Print preview' to check the number of pages and printer settings. Print functionality varies between browsers. Printable page generated Thursday, 11 Nov , Assessing the Fetus. Antenatal Care Module: Assessing the Fetus Study Session 11 Assessing the Fetus Introduction In this study session, we turn our attention to the physical examination of the mother in order to find out about the position and health of her baby.
Learning Outcomes for Study Session 11 When you have studied this session, you should be able to: SAQ Healthy signs There is only one baby in the uterus.
The baby is head down at the time of birth. Warning signs The baby is feet or bottom down at the time of birth. The baby is lying sideways at the time of birth. The mother has twins or triplets.
You already know how to listen for two fetal heartbeats Study Session The questions you are trying to answer when you examine her are: Is the baby vertical up and down? This is known as a vertical lie. Or is it lying sideways across her belly? This is a transverse lie.
Is the baby head down cephalic presentation or bottom down breech presentation? View larger image. Figure You should be able to feel the baby lying vertically — ideally head down. Think back to Study Session What should you do if you suspect that a woman is having twins? Refer the mother to a health centre immediately. Box What are the three signs of twin pregnancy? What are the two ways to try to hear the heartbeats of twins? Use a watch to help you count the two heartbeats. Summary of Study Session 11 In Study Session 11, you have learned that: It is reassuring to find one baby in the uterus and that the head of the fetus is down in the last month of pregnancy.
Most babies are lying vertically by the seventh month with their head towards the cervix of the uterus. In any other situation, i. Do not attempt to turn a breech or transverse baby.
Fetal kick is also a sign of fetal health. If the baby stops kicking it may be sick or have died, and the mother needs urgent referral. Hearing two heartbeats is a sign of twins. The heartbeat will be easier to hear if you have a stethoscope or a fetoscope. The normal fetal heart rate is usually about to beats per minute. Self-Assessment Questions SAQs for Study Session 11 Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions.
In each case, say why it is incorrect. A Listening to the fetal heartbeat using a stethoscope is called auscultation. D The fetal heart rate is normally to beats a minute. Answer A True. Listening to the fetal heart beat using a stethoscope is called auscultation.
C False. D True. The fetal heart rate is normally to beats a minute. I kn… I was using a hospital grade stephoscope. Your bowe… Gotcha. It has to be right over the baby's back, so it's harder to find. It's also very quiet, like a clock ticking under a pillow. You can definitely hear movement, too! I prefer to listen with a stethoscope because it's safer, for one thing, but also because it doesn't distort the sound of the baby's heartbeat. Keep looking, and try to feel for the baby's back first Belly mapping might help.
Join now to personalize. May Birth Club BabyCenter may earn a commission from shopping links. I tried today to listen to my babies heartbeat with my stephoscope defiantly an expensive good one and couldn't get it. But I was hearing what I thought were definate movements. Your OB has likely heard hundreds — if not thousands — of heartbeats. Leave that to your doctor. Other devices might work, too, but be wary of claims.
A fetoscope looks like a stethoscope combined with a horn. However, these are not as easy to find for everyday use at home. Talk to your midwife or doula, if you have one. This may seem like a fun way to record and share the heartbeat with friends and family, but be careful about how much you trust these. Case in point: One study found that of 22 phone apps claiming to detect fetal heartbeat without need for additional accessories or in-app purchases, all 22 failed to accurately find the heartbeat.
Your partner can place their ear on your belly and see if they hear anything. One of the best ways to hear the heartbeat is during a prenatal appointment when your OB-GYN uses an ultrasound or fetal Doppler. And remember, your OB is not only there to help but also wants you to experience all the joys pregnancy has to offer. Feeling your baby move is one of the most exciting milestones of your pregnancy.
We'll tell you when this should happen and how it changes over time. The positions of your baby in the womb becomes important as your due date approaches because they should be in the best position for delivery.
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