Indications for Each Type of Device
Fetal monitor
The main indicators for the fetal monitor include the heart rate and rhythm that establish the fetal condition during labor and delivery. The health care provider involved in the labor and delivery process has the mandate of ensuring that the fetal heart rate and rhythm remain constant to identify any forms of distress on the fetus.
Internal fetal scalp electrode
The internal fetal scalp electrode is used as an internal monitoring device that helps in providing health care providers with a clear understanding of the fetal heart pattern. Usage of this equipment is important when dealing with cases where the external fetal monitors experience difficulty in trying to get a clear pattern.
External fetal monitor
The external fetal monitor focuses on the fetal heart rate through the mother’s abdomen with an aim of identifying whether the fetus is experiencing distress during the course of the pregnancy (Shore et al. 296). That means that use of this device is important during the prenatal visits during which the health care providers engage in fetal heart rate monitoring.
External uterine monitor
The external uterine monitor helps in identification of any significant contractions occurring within the uterus as part of the labor and delivery processes. That would provide the health provider with a basic understanding on whether the fetus may experience discomfort resulting in distress during the course of labor and delivery.
IUPC
Usage of an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC) helps in measurements of the exact force of contractions during the course of labor and delivery. The IUPC takes into great consideration the frequency, time, and strength of the contractions as a way of establishing the exact time frame for the delivery process.
Item Differences and Risks/Benefits
Fetal monitor
The main difference between this particular device compared to other devices is that it can create a fetal heart rhythm with the ability to identify or detect notable changes in the event that they occur within a given period during the course of labor. The main benefit associated with this device is that also helps in developing a line on maternal heart rate as part of the identification of any changes in the heart rate from the mother during the course of labor and delivery.
Internal fetal scalp electrode
The difference projected from this device is that it has the capacity to touch the fetal scalp as a way of creating a direct line in the identification of the fetal heart rate. That means that this device is somewhat effective when compared to the usage of other devices, as it acts as a guarantee that the health care provider would be in a position to identify the fetal heart rate without any notable challenges. The main risks associated with the device include risks of infection and bruising on the fetal scalp (Mert, Sezdi, and Akan 1189).
External fetal monitor
The external fetal monitor not only provides patients with a basic overview of the heart rate but also helps in creating an ultrasonic image of the fetus that would help in the identification of any physical aspects. That means that regular monitoring a fetus with this device may help in providing a clear understanding of the growth capacities for the fetus to identify whether the fetus has achieved its expected growth capacities. The risk associated with this device is that it exposes the fetus to radiation, which may have a major impact on brain development leading to significant impairments.
External uterine monitor
The external uterine monitor uses an external outlook of the uterus is identifying any changes in the contractions during the course of delivery. That means that the health care provider would be in a position to evaluate whether the patient involved is ready for delivery based on her contractions. The main benefit of using this device is that it would help in identification of any changes in contractions during the course of delivery, which may affect the mother or the fetus.
IUPC
The difference when using IUPC is that it has the capacity of measuring contractions with regard to their frequency, time, and strength. That means that the health care professional involved in the delivery process would be in a position to keep track of the delivery process with the aim of having to establish the best course of action to take in a given period. The main benefit of using this device is that it does not have any notable impacts on the delivery process but only works towards providing a clear reading on the contractions.
Correct Placement of External Monitors on a Patient
During the placement of the external monitors, it is important to ensure that the patient is comfortable so that the monitors get an accurate reading. The health care professional involved may position and reposition the monitors depending on the comfort of the patient to avoid any form of discomfort. The placement process ought to consider a specific area of the abdomen where the signal quality would be viable to make a conclusive assessment (Cohen and Hayes‐Gill 593). That means that the health professional would be involved in moving the monitors from one location, on the abdomen, to another. After locating a signal, the professional ought to maintain a steady reading for a given period that would provide a clear assessment of the fetus heart rate and rhythm.
Works Cited
Cohen, Wayne R., and Barrie Hayes‐Gill. "Influence of Maternal Body Mass Index on Accuracy and Reliability of External Fetal Monitoring Techniques." Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica 93.6 (2014): 590-595. Print.
Mert, Ahmet, Mana Sezdi, and Aydin Akan. "A Test and Simulation Device for Doppler-based Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring." Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences 23.4 (2015): 1187-1194. Print.
Shore, Haim, et al. "Customized Fetal Growth Modeling and Monitoring—A Statistical Process Control Approach." Quality Engineering 26.3 (2014): 290-310. Print.
