monitoring
Last reviewed 01/2018
Maternal monitoring:
- continual support and reassurance from midwife and partner
- blood pressure and temperature 4 hourly or more frequently if indicated
Foetal monitoring:
- monitor foetal heart rate by intermittent auscultation or CTG
- check liquor for presence of meconium
- check scalp capillary pH if indicated
During labour, fetal pH falls by 0.016 units per hour. In the pushing phase, the pH falls by 0.12 units per hour. Thus in a ten hour labour, followed by an hour of pushing, a baby whose pH started at 7.36 will become 7.08, ie fairly acidotic.