| Sumario: | The use of fetal heart monitoring (FHM) to diagnose the wellbeing of the fetus has been practiced for centuries. It plays an important role in the care of the fetus and mother during labour and birth. There have been many technological advances in FHM to aid midwives in monitoring the fetal heart. The use of the Pinard stethoscope or hand held Doppler for intermittent auscultation is recommended for low risk mothers-to-be. For higher-risk pregnancies, electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) offers continuous surveillance. However, since the introduction of EFM in the 1970s, its widespread use is causing much debate in the obstetric field, particularly because it is sometimes routinely used to observe low-risk cases. There is a call from regulatory bodies for a balanced use of EFM. Regular EFM training for midwives will help them to interpret EFM data. According to some studies, EFM reassures expectant mothers and their technical advances are offering mothers more accurate information and freedom of movement during labour.
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