Using telemetry to monitor the fetal heart in labour
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using telemetry to monitor the fetal heart in labour: a mixed methods study
IRAS ID
232508
Contact name
Kylie Watson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ICA-CDRF-2015-01-06, NIHR Fellowship
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 24 days
Research summary
Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM) in labour is recommended for women classified as ‘high-risk', whose fetuses may be at greater risk of reduced oxygen levels. Conventional CEFM involves the use of two transducers (one for the fetal heart (FH) and one for uterine activity) that are attached to a woman’s abdomen via leads and connected to a larger machine. A continuous record of the FH and uterine activity is recorded. Movement of the woman in labour is restricted to the length of the leads; many women tend to stay on the bed. EFM by telemetry also employs two transducers on the abdomen but information is sent to the main machine wirelessly; the woman is able to mobilise freely and is able to be immersed in water if she wishes. Current UK intrapartum guidelines (NICE, 2014) recommend that all women having CEFM in labour should be offered telemetry and further research should be undertaken. There is no contemporary evidence regarding what influences the use of telemetry, any possible impact telemetry may have on labour outcomes or the experience of women, including any difference it may make to mobility, control or satisfaction in labour. This mixed methods study will use interviews and observations to gather in-depth knowledge on social processes around FH monitoring in labour and experiences of women and midwives using telemetry. The study will also collect clinical data such as length of labour, use of pain relief and perceived control and satisfaction from a group of women using telemetry and compare this to a group of women not using telemetry. Both sets of findings will be synthesised to draw conclusions on the use of telemetry in labour and contribute to future work developing a new tool that can be used on a larger population evaluating the impacts of telemetry use.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0699
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion