What is it about?
Our paper examines all the published research which compares the use of CTG monitoring in labour with intermittent auscultation in populations of women considered to be a high, or mixed, risk - seeking to find out the effect of CTG monitoring on the perinatal mortality rate. The use of CTG monitoring was not associated with an reduction in mortality in RCTs or well conducted non-experimental research.
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Why is it important?
CTG monitoring is widespread, with increasing numbers of "risk factors" being used as justification for its use. Evidence shows that women exposed to CTG monitoring are more likely to have surgical births, with increased risks associated with this. We need to question whether there are benefits from the use of CTG monitoring for women considered to be at risk.
Perspectives
This research was conducted as part of my doctoral research which examines issues of power in maternity care, specifically in relation to central fetal monitoring. It is my thesis that central fetal monitoring, and CTG guidelines, reproduce obstetric domination in maternity care.
Dr Kirsten A Small
Griffith University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Intrapartum cardiotocograph monitoring and perinatal outcomes for women at risk: Literature review, Women and Birth, October 2019, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.10.002.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
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