Introduction

During labor, the pregnant person and fetus are monitored for safety and progression of labor. Fetal assessment involves evaluating the fetal heart rate in response to uterine contractions. Fetal assessment can be determined by either continuous electronic fetal monitoring or intermittent fetal monitoring. The nurse initiates the type of fetal monitoring using hospital protocols or orders written by health-care providers and the preferences of the laboring person.

This chapter covers monitoring of FHR and UC patterns and their relationship to fetal well-being. Nurses working on perinatal units are trained to read fetal monitor tracings and can be certified in fetal monitoring by the National Certification Corporation (2023). This chapter describes the physiologic influences on FHR and UC patterns and how the nurse can recognize the need for intervention. Intrauterine resuscitation is used when the FHR shows signs of decreased oxygenation to the fetus. The labor and delivery nurse is proficient in recognizing the need for intrauterine interventions.