Maternal self-administered fetal heart rate monitoring and transmission from home in high-risk pregnancies

Abstract

Daily home FHR monitoring in high-risk patients is safe and feasible at all gestational ages, based on this initial pilot evaluation. It is easily and reliably performed and accepted by patients with a high level of satisfaction.

How Advances in Digital Health Benefit Pregnant Women

“…The non-stress test (NST) is a common test done on patients with high risk pregnancy to identify fetus heart rate (FHR) for fetuses that are in "immediate danger of deterioration and compromise" [14] . Patients can perform the NST in the home daily using a FHR monitor and transmit the data to a caregiver who can reassure the patient that there is no risk or refer the patient to the hospital for further observation [14] .…”

“…Patients can perform the NST in the home daily using a FHR monitor and transmit the data to a caregiver who can reassure the patient that there is no risk or refer the patient to the hospital for further observation [14] . Studies show that home FHR monitoring is safe at all stages of gestation and is so easy to use that it can benefit even "socioeconomically disadvantaged patients" [14] . Home monitoring alleviates patients having to find transportation to a physician's office, and also encourages them to comply and be an active participant in their own health care [14] .…”

“…Studies show that home FHR monitoring is safe at all stages of gestation and is so easy to use that it can benefit even "socioeconomically disadvantaged patients" [14] . Home monitoring alleviates patients having to find transportation to a physician's office, and also encourages them to comply and be an active participant in their own health care [14] .…”

Garment Design for an Ambulatory Pregnancy Monitoring System

“…First, tele-monitoring of pregnancies at risk would imply a considerable cost-reduction per year [4]. Second, patient-directed FHR monitoring and transmission is successful with high level of satisfaction from the patients [5]. There are even some commercial wireless pregnancy monitors, such as the Avalon CTS Cordless Fetal Transducer System [6], the Monica AN24 monitor [7], and the Remote Fetal Monitor [8].…”

Prenatal Telemedicine – Advances in Fetal Monitoring

“…Since these individuals are not autonomous, but totally dependent on the adults, the society is also responsible for their health for obvious ethical reasons. Therefore, prenatal health care is an important topic in biomedical research, and fetal monitoring is one of its most important components (Di Lieto et al, 2008;Ippolito et al, 2003;Kosa et al, 2008;Hod and Kerner, 2003;Dalfra, 2009;Kerner, 2004;Di Lieto, 2002). Fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) and electroencephalogram (fEEG) can be used to investigate the general wellbeing and the brain development.…”