Topic Overview

Fetal heart monitoring in a woman who has gestational diabetes is a way to record your baby's heart rate and measure the frequency and duration of tightening (contractions) of your uterus during labour.

A fetal heart monitor is a machine with sensors that may be placed on your belly (external) or inside your vagina (internal). Internal monitoring is more accurate than external monitoring.

• External monitoring uses sensors that are strapped with elastic belts around your belly. The sensors are connected to a machine that records your baby's heart rate and contractions of your uterus. If a non-stress test is being done at the same time, the baby's heart rate is recorded and you are asked to push a button to record every time you feel the baby move.
• Internal monitoring can only be done after the bag of waters (amniotic sac) has broken (ruptured).
  • A Velcro strap with an attached sensor is wrapped around your thigh.
  • A thin wire (electrode) is guided through the opening in your cervix and attached to the scalp of the fetus.
  • The end of the electrode is then connected to the sensor on your thigh.
  • A long, thin tube that measures the strength and length of contractions of your uterus may be inserted alongside the baby.
  • The tube and electrode are connected to the monitoring machine that records the baby's heart rate and your contractions.