Journal of Nursing & Care

Technological Developments in Neonatal Care at Birth

Abstract

David J R Hutchon

During labour the fetal heart rate is the primary measurement to determine the health of the fetus and full use of modern electronics is made to measure the rate and variability in the rate which occurs in both a healthy and compromised fetus. Real time documentation is also part of the process. At birth the heart rate remains the primary vital sign of the neonate but measurement now relies on auscultation without any real-time documentation, at least until a satisfactory signal from pulse oximetry can be obtained. Pulse oximetry takes at least one minute before the signal is reliable but during this first minute critical decisions regarding care have to be made and during this time critical damage to the neonatal brain can occur if the wrong decision has been made. We describe how this gap in accurate measurement and documentation can be closed.