Monitoring Devices Lower Risk of Stillbirths
Fetal Heart Rate Monitors Alleviate Pregnancy Loss Fears
Oct 22, 2009
During October, which is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, support groups organize activities to help raise awareness to the millions of families affected by this devastating loss. The numbers of those families affected reflect a large portion of the population, this sadly attests to the gap in medical research dedicated to solving the reasons why so many babies die so early and finding ways that these losses can be prevented.
Some Pregnancy Losses and Stillbirths Have No Warning Signs
According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1 out every 160 deliveries ends in a stillbirth. There are known risks that increase the chances of a pregnancy loss occurring. These factors include maternal illnesses, advanced maternal age, obesity and certain races. Even knowing the risk factors associated with stillbirth does not help alleviate the anxiety associated possibility of losing a pregnancy or delivering a still born baby.
Doctor’s Invent Devices that May help Prevent Stillbirths
However, there is hope on the horizon. Doctors at the University of Maryland are working a device called Monica AN24. This device is the size of a mobile phone and is attached to the pregnant woman’s belly via five electrodes. The electrodes monitor the baby’s heartbeat, the mother’s heart beat and uterine contractions. The Monica AN24is a stand alone device and will be able to monitor the mother and her child over a 24-hour period through the small device’s software. The reading can be monitored by the physician for abnormalities that signal trouble and appropriate measures can be taken early on ( "University of Maryland doctors test new fetal monitor for high risk pregnancies", Press release, July 30, 2008, Accessed October 21, 2009).
Real-time Monitoring Fetal Monitoring Device Sends Baby’s Heart Rate to Doctor’s Office
Complications that lead to pre-term labor and stillbirths are unlikely to occur suddenly but occur over a period of time. A group of scientists in India are developing a monitoring acoustic device that pregnant mothers can attach to their abdomen to monitor the baby’s heart rate. If the device detects an abnormality it will set off an alarm prompting the mother to seek medical assistance. The recorded fetal heart rates can be downloaded to the internet and sent to the attending physician (A.K. Mittra, N.K. Choudhari, A.S. Zadgaonkar. “System simulation for a novel fetal monitoring methodology”. Abstract) International Journal of Engineering Systems Modeling and Simulation, 2009; 1: 92-1
Subsequent pregnancies after a pregnancy loss or stillbirth are very difficult. A mother endures constant stress; these two devices could help alleviate some of the associated worry. Monitoring fetal heart rates are usually done at visits to the doctor's office, but these devices are stand alone and offer the possibility of a 24/7 monitoring program to help ease the worry and stress. The devices will also help in high-risk pregnancies by alerting physicians of any minute changes in the baby’s heart rate.
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