4.8   Assessment and recording of fetal wellbeing

How do you know that the fetus is in good health during labour and delivery? The methods open to you are limited, but you can assess fetal condition:

  • By counting the fetal heart beat every 30 minutes;
  • If the fetal membranes have ruptured, by checking the colour of the amniotic fluid.

4.7   Uterine contractions

4.8.1  Fetal heart rate as an indicator of fetal distress