Fetal scalp monitoring
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Topic: Fetal scalp monitoring
Posted By: Freesia
Subject: Fetal scalp monitoring
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 6:21pm
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I've been told by my midwife that I am most likely going to be monitored using a fetal scalp monitor when I'm in labour for a few reasons. I hate the thought of the electrodes in the baby's scalp and would like to hear from anyone else who has had this type of monitoring during their labour. What was it like? Did it hurt? Was it hindering in any kind of way? Were there any complications? and were there marks left on the baby afterwards? -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 8:18pm
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I had that done, can't quite remember why - I think they had trouble picking up on the baby signals just from my tummy and also, as Gina was born early, they wanted to make sure all was well.
Did it hurt? Not at all Was it hindering in any kind of way? Not really, I could still move around etc, I just had to wheel the machine after me but it's not very big Were there any complications? No, we had quite a good birth experience Were there marks left on the baby afterwards? No Hope it all goes well for you  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: bub
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 9:06pm
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hey there i had that done to didnt find anything wrong with it at all i think i had it coz it was to uncomfortable with the thing round my belly there wasnt any mark on briannas head or if there was it must have ben tiny.
Didnt have any complications with it. Will have it this time round if need be.not sure if that helps or not. ------------- mother to Brianna, Amelia & Mathew. http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 9:20pm
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Conor (12) had one for most of my labour until he ended up being delivered by Vontouse because his heart rate kept falling. There weren't any adverse effects for either of us (apart from a bruise on his forehead from the suction thingee). ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 9:22pm
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I had it with Maya as the external CTG couldn't pick up her heartbeat (she was posterior and turned during labour so there was a lot of pushing and shoving going on) and again with the gremlins on Sienna (twin 1) as part of a pre-agreed medically managed induction.
Both times I was stuck in bed, with Maya coz I had the epi and with the gremlins coz I'd had the epi and even tho it failed and I could move around the OB wanted me in one place so they could externally monitor twin 2. They would have put a scalp clip on Mercedes after Sienna was born but they didn't have time as she arrived too quickly. Neither Maya nor Sienna had any marks or anything from the FSM, Sienna had a tiny storkbite on the top of her head but it was gone within a few days. If your LMC recommends it, I'd say go with it. In my experience it isn't detrimental to you or bubs, birthing bub with a FSM on isn't a problem at all either. Good luck! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Freesia
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 9:33pm
Thank you. Although my midwife assured me that it would be fine, it's always nice to hear from people that have experienced it. I keep picturing these huge prongs that they'd poke into the baby's head  From the sounds of it they must be really tiny though. -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 9:42pm
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Not at all! It's a tiny little thing, so tiny that when I watched a friend give birth and her son had one on I could see the wire leading up to his head but couldn't see the tiny clip where it was actually attached to him. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 9:46pm
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I had it with Lesieli and I didnt notice it at all and when she was born there was no sign of where it had been.
------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: Redbedrock
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 10:01pm
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Fay had it too, I didn't notice any problems/hinderence but i was a bit busy at the time. Fay had a small mark on her head for a while but her hair is over it now and I have no idea if it scarred.
Fay was early and the external monitoring kept picking up my heart beat instead of hers, it was a releif to have it really, as i could finally move around and get on my hands and knees, With the external monitor I was trapped lying flat on my back and Fay was posterior for most of the labour and that is not a good position when most of the labouring is in the lower back Good luck, it is nothing really Claire ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 08 January 2008 at 10:29pm
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i had it with charli too after the external monitoring wasn't giving a good reading and didn't notice....but that was after the spinal she had bruising to her head, but that was more from forceps and vontuese than anything else.
good luck, it's better to have everything monitored and know what's going on with bubs  ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Freesia
Date Posted: 09 January 2008 at 6:24am
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Yeah, when we use the external monitors, DP has to sit there putting pressure on the heartbeat one to get a decent reading and I cannot move an inch or it goes haywire. I have an anterior placenta too which probably could confuse things as well. But because I'm a 'high-risk' pregnancy, my midwife wants me monitored continuously and she thinks this would be the best way.
I went to google it but the first few pages that came up talked about infections and transferance of herpes so I quickly closed those down. I should know by now not to blimmin google anything. It's good to hear you all had good experiences with it though. That's so much more reassuring for me. -------------
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 09 January 2008 at 7:44am
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I had it with Tom and after my antenatal classes I was very worried about it.
it was fine! Yes, tom had a wee scratch on his head but that was nothing on the bruise he had from the ventouse. I could feel it tickling me. I was on the bed becasue of an epi but if he moved I could feel it move and tickle. It was kinda cool because I had anothe way of knowing he was alright |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 January 2008 at 10:59pm
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I had it with Andrew as they were getting worried about his HB dropping with contractions and not being able to pick it up with the external one. I didn't feel a thing with it and Andrew wasn't marked at all. If anything it helped my MW when he was coming out as they watched him turn his head in the canal. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 10 January 2008 at 1:24pm
I had it with Jackson as he was really distressed and his heartrate dropped with contractions. He has a tiny little mark on his head, but nothing compared to the massive conehead he came out with from the ventouse!  (Which does go away quickly)
I had an epi too and couldn't feel a thing, wasn't moving round so didn't have to worry about it getting in the way or anything. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 13 January 2008 at 8:01pm
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I had one with Hannah. It was a bit weird because it was attached to a longish umm thing (sorry!) which I kept feeling between my knees but it wasn't a problem. Like RedBedrock said, it was a lot easier than the CTG monitoring.
Hannah wasn't hurt but she still has a tiny scar from it, and her hair doesn't grow there, but it is ever so tiny. ------------- |