Continuous electronic fetal monitoring

Continuous electronic fetal
monitoring in labour by cardio-tocography (CTG) is now the accepted standard for intra-partum fetal monitoring in women with additional risk factors.

    Compared to intermittent auscultation, CTG is associated with:

    1. A halving of the risk of neonatal seizures.
    2. A significant increase in the risk of caesarean section (relative risk 1.66; 1.30 – 2.13)
    3. A significant increase in the risk of instrumental delivery (relative risk 1.16; 1.01 – 1.32)
    4. No significant difference in overall perinatal death rate
   5. No significant difference in the risk of cerebral palsy

These results remain true for low-risk, high-risk and preterm pregnancies and were unaffected by access to fetal blood sampling.