Question

what is this contraction strip called?

Answer 1

Electronic Fetal Monitoring.

A contraction strip is the tracing that records the fetus' heart rate in response to uterine contractions.

It is otherwise called fetal heart monitoring tracing.

Cardiotocography is the technique of recording the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions.

The Electronic Fetal Monitor has two devices that detect pressure called transducers.

How to interpret the strip

• The interval between two vertical red lines represent one minute.
• Fetal heart sound displayed on the top line
• Uterine activity displayed on the lower line
• The top line spikes up or dips down to reflect changes in baby's heart rate.
• The bottom line of the strip shows the mother’s uterine contractions.
• The two lines are looked at in conjunction with one another.
• During normal labour the duration of contractions should be about 40-60 seconds.
• Contractions that last longer than two minutes are abnormal and are referred to as hypertonus.
• The frequency of contractions should be about two to three minutes apart. When the contractions that come more frequently than one every two minutes it is called tacysystole.
• The normal baseline for a healthy fetus is between 110 to 160 beats per minute. The heart rate above 160 beats per minute known as tachycardia and the heart rate below 110 beats per minute is called bradycardia.