Websites
WebMD gives some good, basic information on electronic fetal monitoring. The writing is directed towards expectant patients that would have this procedure and speaks in terms that lay-people can understand while providing information that will be helpful to know. It tells the women what to expect from the monitoring, the purpose, the types of monitoring, normal vs. abnormal findings, how to prepare, risks, and benefits. It is available to anyone with computer/ internet access.
MedlinePlus is also another site that provides basic information on electronic fetal
monitoring. It discussed non-stress tests and contractions stress tests in terms that a layperson should be able to understand.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003405.htm
monitoring. It discussed non-stress tests and contractions stress tests in terms that a layperson should be able to understand.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003405.htm
The journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published one of the most important pieces of information to get all clinicians working around electronic fetal monitoring to use the same terminology. This article is one of several published with the terminology agreed upon by the American Congress of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG) and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses. It provides an update on definitions, interpretation, and research guidelines for antepartum and intrapartum care.
https://sslforms.fairview.org/static/the%202008%20national%20institute%20of%20child%20health%20report%20on%20electronic%20fetal%20monitoring_1_latest_c_584915.pdf
https://sslforms.fairview.org/static/the%202008%20national%20institute%20of%20child%20health%20report%20on%20electronic%20fetal%20monitoring_1_latest_c_584915.pdf
Cypress College has an online lesson for fetal monitoring and fetal heart rate variability. These lessons would be more suited for nurses as it provides more technical terminology that a layperson does not necessarily need to know. It gives a good overview of what normal baseline heart rate should be, what is bradycardia, tachycardia, variability, accelerations, and decelerations. It gives definitions to the decelerations of fetal heart rate along with possible causes of these decelerations. There are graphs and examples included so that visual understanding is improved.
http://www.childbirths.com/cypress/fetalmonitoringetc.htm
http://www.childbirths.com/cypress/fetalmonitoringetc.htm
OBGYN.NET published a 70 slide Power Point presentation by Dr. D. Lata Sharma that gives a detailed history and current evaluation of electronic fetal monitoring. The author is from Australia so some of the terminology is different than the United States but it is a very informative presentation. The intended audience is OB/GYN physicians or other advanced practice clinicians and nurses that need to be well versed in electronic fetal monitoring. The language is much more technical than the above resources. The slides can be downloaded to one's computer for reference at a later time.
http://www.obgyn.net/educational-tutorials/article/12571
http://www.obgyn.net/educational-tutorials/article/12571