Fresh Warning On Home Foetal Heart Monitors

November 6th 2009

Experts issued a fresh warning today to pregnant women not to trust home foetal heart monitors.

The British Medical Journal has published a second case study highlighting the potential danger of over-the-counter foetal heart monitors.

The use of these monitors, also known as Doppler devices, may provide false reassurance to pregnant women who may otherwise seek medical help for reduced foetal movements.

The new warning was backed by the Royal College of Midwives today.

Dr Abhijoy Chakladar and Hazel Adams from the Princess Royal Hospital, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, outline the case of a 34 year old woman who was 38 weeks pregnant with her first baby when she presented to the labour ward unable to detect her baby's heartbeat with her foetal heart monitor.

She had noticed a reduction in her baby's movements three days earlier but was reassured by hearing what she thought was the foetal heartbeat. This was most likely her own heartbeat or placental flow, the doctors believe.

No foetal heart activity was seen on an ultrasound scan, and intrauterine death was diagnosed.

"An over the counter foetal heart monitor can be a fun purchase for expectant parents," the authors write. But measuring the foetal heart rate "requires training and skill to perform accurately".

"Obstetric services need to educate expectant mothers about the limitations and the potentially fatal consequences of untrained use of foetal heart monitors and to present clear guidance about when to seek medical review," they conclude.

Mervi Jokinen, of the Royal College of Midwives, said it was very easy for women to misunderstand the sounds from the monitors - which might include relaying the mother's own heart-beat.

She said: "We fully understand and encourage mothers' interest in their baby's
development and growth but there are many other ways this can be done.

"For example, midwives teach mothers to recognise their baby's behaviour
patterns via movement and kicks. Also talking to their baby and stroking
can bring responses much more real and satisfying than sound on a
monitor.

"It also helps with the baby's bonding by recognising maternal or family voices after birth."

BMJ editor Rebecca Coombes points out that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has concerns these products were being increasingly used by lay people.

The Agency says: "These devices are often sold over the internet from sources outside the UK, and often the EU, and it is difficult to control such sales."

Chakladar, A. and Adams, H. Dangers of listening to the fetal heart at home. The British Medical Journal, 2009;339:b4308.

Coombes, R. Commentary: Don't try this at home? The British Medical Journal, 2009;339:b4421.

 

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