title: Nursing assessment and responsibilities in monitoring the preterm pregnancy.
abstract: Evaluating women for pregnancy-related problems that may result in preterm birth frequently requires electronic fetal monitoring at early gestational ages. Caution is needed to interpret information correctly from the preterm fetal heart rate and uterine activity tracings. Interpreting fetal heart rate tracings from preterm fetuses requires knowledge of fetal physiologic development. Obtaining clear tracings of preterm uterine activity remains a challenge and heightens the importance of thorough nursing assessment, including inquiry about risk factors for pregnancy complications.
authors.affiliation: St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Eganhouse
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Burnside
mesh_terms: D004582:Electronics, Medical; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000451:nursing*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014590:Uterine Contraction