Intrapartum fetal oxygen saturation monitoring in a busy labour ward

Abstract

Objective: To measure the ease of use of a fetal pulse oximeter in a busy labour ward. Design: Descriptive study in the Labour Ward, National University Hospital, Singapore, involving 145 labouring women with singleton pregnancies, and fetuses in cephalic presentation, with cervical dilatation >2 cm and amniotic membranes ruptured. Results: Placement was comfortable. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) readings were obtained in 127 women (87.5%). Adequate readings were obtained a median of 69% of the time the transducer was in situ. SpO2 values in the last 10 min prior to delivery correlated poorly with parameters of neonatal outcome. Conclusion: The Nellcor N-400 fetal pulse oximeter and FS14 fetal sensor is a feasible method of intrapartum fetal monitoring in a busy labour ward and is acceptable to labouring women. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.