Project Background

The CTG has by default become the gold-standard for fetal monitoring during delivery. However the CTG has many shortcomings. It generates results that are difficult to interpret, has a high rate of false positives and has well known inter and intra-user variability - even among experts. In addition, while not being invasive it is intrusive for the mother and partly as a result of this, is only generally used when a fetus appears to be at risk.

The traditional CTG device calculates the FHR by analysing a Doppler ultrasound signal, this produces a reasonably reliable average FHR but does not provide a FECG or support the calculation of beat-beat intervals and thus short-term FHR variability (FHRV).

Analysis of the FECG and the use of FHRV have been demonstrated to have high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of fetal distress.

Recently a number of affordable (and wearable) devices have become available that can extract the FECG from a signal collected via maternal abdominal leads, during delivery or in the ante-natal clinic. In addition, a uterine contraction signal, the Electrohysterogram (EHG) can be extracted.

The potential benefits of this new approach are yet to be fully investigated.

Phase one:

To investigate the acceptability of the technology in the ante-natal clinic - both to the mother and the clinic staff

Phase two:

To investigate the acceptability of the technology in the delivery suite - both to the mother and the clinic staff

Phase three:

To compare the NI fECG to traditional methods of monitoring during at-risk deliveries

Phase four:

To develop predictive ECG parameters for fetal health both before and during delivery

View Project Goals, Methods and Literature Review.