Fetal Monitoring Essential to Prevent Injury and Death

Injury to a baby during labor and delivery is one of the most devastating outcomes a family can experience – and one of the hardest to understand.

When a baby is injured or lost late in pregnancy or during labor, parents are often left searching for answers: What went wrong? Was someone watching? Could this have been prevented?

In many cases, the answers begin with a simple piece of paper: the fetal monitoring strip. Hospitals use this tool in nearly every labor and delivery room to track a baby’s heart rate and detect early signs of distress. When interpreted correctly, it can help save lives. When ignored, misread, or dismissed – it can mark the moment everything changed.

Why Fetal Monitoring Matters During Labor

Fetal heart monitoring is one of the most essential tools used during labor and delivery. It is designed to help medical teams track a baby’s well-being in real time – primarily by identifying early signs of distress that may indicate a drop in oxygen or complications with the delivery.

In many cases, this monitoring allows physicians and nurses to intervene before things become critical. It can guide decisions about whether labor is progressing safely or whether urgent action – such as a cesarean section – is needed.

When fetal monitoring fails – whether through missed abnormal readings, misinterpretations, or dismissed concerns – the consequences can be devastating. In some cases, the result is stillbirth, and in others, the baby survives delivery but suffers long-term consequences, including brain injury, cerebral palsy, or other permanent disabilities related to oxygen deprivation during birth.

The Role of Oxygen and Heart Rate in Labor

During labor, a baby depends entirely on oxygen delivered through the placenta and carried through the umbilical cord. A healthy heart rate typically ranges from 110 to 160 beats per minute. Dips – known as decelerations – can be normal. Repeated, prolonged, or late decelerations may signal that the baby is not getting enough oxygen.

Think of the umbilical cord like a garden hose: when it’s open, oxygen flows smoothly from the placenta to the baby. If the cord becomes compressed – or if contractions are too strong or too close together – the flow can be restricted, like a kink in the hose. When that happens, oxygen slows or stops entirely.

Without oxygen, the baby’s body begins to prioritize essential functions. Blood is diverted away from organs like the kidneys and digestive system and sent to the brain and heart. If the lack of oxygen continues, even those vital systems begin to shut down. The baby’s heart rate drops, and the risk of permanent damage or death increases with every minute.

Ongoing oxygen deprivation can result in serious complications, including brain injury, organ failure, or stillbirth. Recognizing these patterns early is critical.

When an External Monitor Isn’t Enough

Fetal heart monitors are essential, but they are not flawless. In some cases, the external sensors placed on the mother’s belly produce inconsistent or unreadable strips. This can happen due to maternal movement, the mother’s size, poor positioning, or interference during labor. When the baby’s heart rate cannot be clearly tracked – or when the strip raises concern – a more precise tool is needed.

What Is a Fetal Scalp Electrode?

A fetal scalp electrode is a small wire that can be placed directly on the baby’s head during labor, after the water has broken. It provides a more accurate and continuous reading of the baby’s heart rate than the external monitor. This tool is standard in every labor and delivery unit and is used when the external strip is producing unclear or inconsistent readings, or when there are signs of distress.

Fetal scalp electrodes offer clarity in moments where the baby’s well-being is uncertain. They help medical teams determine whether the baby is in distress, how severe it may be, and whether emergency intervention – such as a cesarean section – is necessary.

What We Want Families to Know

Injury to a new baby, including stillbirth, is one of the most painful, isolating losses any family can experience. When it happens, grieving parents are often left with more questions than answers. We help families uncover the truth – by reviewing fetal monitoring data, consulting with trusted medical experts, and holding providers accountable when care falls short.

If you’ve experienced a stillbirth or birth injury and something doesn’t sit right with you about the birth of your child, you are not alone – and you are not without options.