Background: The electrocardiograph (ECG) is efficient method for the accurate assessment of fetal heart rate. The barriers for accurate assessment are maternal heart rate, uterine contractions and abdominal muscles. Although previous monitoring methods have struggled to overcome these barriers, recent advances have led to a greater degree of success for listening and recording pulse-by-pulse fetal heart rate. Objectives: A prospective cohort study evaluating the use, reliability and safety of non-invasive electrocardiography, in conjunction with Fetal Heart Rate parameters such as, Short Term Variability (STV) together with umbilical cord PH and Apgar score, during the active phase of childbirth. Methods: A total of 41 women with single, normal, full-term pregnancies had systematic obstetric monitoring with Monica AN24. 20 had only monitoring and 21 also had and arterial blood flow measurements. pH was measured and correlated with neonatal Apgar score at 1 and 5 min. The study also included a questionnaire about the safety and usability of obstetric monitoring. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS v. 26.0. Results: Mean age was 28.8 years, (SD ± 6.153). Electrocardiogram recordings (ECG) were classified as normal (71%) and suspicious (29%). Baseline between ECGs was different (p = 0.025) similarly for Short term variability (STV) (p
Key words: electrocardiography, electrocardiotocography, peripartum care, cardiotocography.
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