Fetal Heart Monitoring During Labor Revisited

One of the most common obstetrical procedures that occur is Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring using the electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) techniques during labor – these are the straps with a probe wrapped around the mother to monitor fetal heart rate and contractions of the uterus.It was introduced in hopes that it would reduce the incidence of ischemic (lack of oxygen) injury to children during labor. It was introduced in 1980 and it was quickly implemented as policy by the American college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

But as with many procedure in the medical field, I believe it was implemented more to avoid lawsuits than due to medical necessity.