The Advantages Of Checking A Baby'S Heartbeat

The Advantages Of Checking A Baby'S Heartbeat

Check frequency Fetal heart gives important clues about the health of a baby before it is born and its well-being. Already at 6 weeks of pregnancy, the evaluation of the heartbeat of the fetus can help doctors to determine if there are possible problems with pregnancy. Later in pregnancy, heart rate control helps discover problems in the placenta, the umbilical cord, or in the heart itself.

Early evaluation in pregnancy

Verifying fetal heart rate helps assess the health of pregnancy. The early fetal heart rate should be between 90 to 110 beats per minute (LPM), a heartbeat less than 90 LPM may indicate that the fetus is not viable, according to Dr. Joseph Woo, author of "Obstetric Ultrasound." At 8 or 9 weeks of pregnancy, the heart should be beating from 140 to 170 LPM. Any variation of the norm could mean that the pregnancy is not developing normally.

An ultrasound is another way to check if the heartbeat is heard during pregnancy, while also assessing the period of pregnancy. At 6 weeks, a fetal pole, the part that is first seen in the development of the embryo, should be seen in the uterus through ultrasound, the fetal pole will measure about 5 mm in the 6 and a half weeks and should be detect a heartbeat If no heartbeat is detected at this point, pregnancy is probably not viable.

Evaluate heart development

At the beginning of the second trimester, the fetal heart rate beats approximately from 120 to 160 LPM. An irregular heartbeat or one that is too fast or too slow (called arrhythmias or dysrhythmias) may indicate congenital heart disease or heart disease that is present at conception, according to the University of California Fetal Treatment Center. This can lead to heart failure or even death within the uterus.

About 14 weeks, the four chambers of the heart can be visualized on a specialized ultrasound known as echocardiography, according to the Diploma in Fetal Medicine Series. At this point, cardiac abnormalities such as holes between the chambers, or narrowed or incorrectly arranged vessels can be checked if arrhythmias or dysrhythmias are heard. This information can help determine the need for interventions to correct or treat the condition, if possible.

Fetal distress detection

The fetal heartbeat is checked at each doctor's visit to make sure the heart is beating from 110 to 160 LPM. A variation of the standard could indicate that the fetus is in danger. A drop in the rhythm of the heartbeat can be heard if the umbilical cord is compressed, usually because the baby is entangled in it, or because of the lack of oxygen transmitted through the placenta.A heart rate lower than 110 LPM for more than a few minutes may be a reason to consider preterm labor, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital.

During delivery, many doctors monitor babies continuously through a fetal monitor to check for signs that the baby is becoming stressed during delivery. The decrease in heart rate during contractions is common, but if the heart rate falls too much and it recovers very slowly, an emergency delivery may be requested. While the fetal heart rate rises when the fetus is active, it should go down to a baseline that is within the normal range when the fetus is still. A sustained tachycardia (accelerated heart rate) of more than 170 LPM may indicate fetal distress and the need for immediate delivery.

Video Tutorial: advantage of being a nurse. checking my baby.

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