title: Monitoring the fetus in labor: evidence to support the methods.
abstract: Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) was implemented across the United States in the 1970s. By 1998, it was used in 84% of all U.S. births, regardless of whether the primary caregiver was a physician or a midwife. Numerous randomized trials have agreed that continuous EFM in labor increases the operative delivery rate, without clear benefit to the baby. Intermittent auscultation (IA) is safe and effective in low-risk pregnancies and may play a role in helping birth remain normal. Clinicians and educators are encouraged to reconsider the use of IA in the care of healthy childbearing women.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico College of Nursing, Albuquerque 87131-5688, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Albers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001314:Auscultation / Q000379:methods; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D014481:United States