Pregnancy is a wonderful period in the lives of women. Each expectant mother carefully prepares to meet her baby. This lies in the fact that throughout pregnancy, women care not only about their health, but also about the child who develops inside them. Modern technology allows you to create all the conditions to maintain a healthy pregnancy. For this, women in an interesting position regularly take tests and undergo examinations. We will dwell in more detail on what CTG is, how this study is conducted, why it is needed at all.
Brief description of the procedure
In medicine, the abbreviation CTG stands for cardiotocography, which is one of the most valuable and necessary studies throughout pregnancy. Let us explain what CTG shows. This is a procedure that allows you to get information about the work of the baby's heart: what is the frequency of the heartbeat and cardiac activity. In addition, using the procedure, you can detect the motor activity of the fetus and the work of the woman’s uterus, determine its reduction. Using this examination, you can also understand the baby’s reaction to changes in the mother’s body.
What does CTG show yet? This study confirms or refutes the dangerous phenomena that can occur during pregnancy for both mother and baby. What phenomena are we talking about? This is fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen), polyhydramnios, infections that develop inside the uterus, premature maturation of the placenta, abnormalities in the development of the heart and vascular system of the fetus.
Based on the foregoing, we conclude that it is useful and important for pregnant women to do CTG, but pay attention, which is not necessary. The study will show and evaluate not only the development of the child, but also the state of the mother, as well as their compatibility.
When to do CTG
Having determined what CTG is, consider how long this analysis is done. As the initial threshold, we denote the figure - 28 weeks of pregnancy. At this point, you can begin to conduct research, but the results at this stage may not be entirely accurate.
The best deadline is 32 weeks onwards. During this period of pregnancy, the baby develops and develops nerve impulses and muscle contractions, which are easily monitored by the equipment. In addition, a cycle is formed in the child, consisting of phases of rest and rest, so the results of the examination will be more accurate and effective.
CTG during childbirth
In fact, what is CTG? This is a unique procedure that can be done not only during pregnancy, but also at the time of birth. The research algorithm will be exactly the same as during pregnancy, but there are some features:
- Firstly, if labor is stable, but there are no problems, then you do not need to lie in labor under the device all the time. You can connect it from time to time to assess the conditions of the child and woman.
- Secondly, if methods of stimulation of labor are used, it is advisable to perform the study more often. This is how one can determine whether stimulation aids help, how the birth process is going. Having received information using CTG about fetal heart rate and uterine contractions, doctors can calculate the dosage of drugs and build the right tactics.
If there is no equipment and the procedure is impossible in the delivery room, do not worry. In theory and practice, other studies are used, thanks to which obstetricians can help a woman give birth to a healthy baby. CTG is only one of the many methods for assessing the condition of mother and baby.
Internal CTG
Special is the internal examination, which is not done so often. What is CTG in the uterine cavity? This is a narrow type of examination, which is used only in the process of childbirth. It can be used only when the fetal bladder has already burst, that is, its integrity is broken. The procedure is carried out in individual cases when there is an urgent need, for example, doubts about the normal condition of the fetus, suspicion of the cessation of the heartbeat, or a situation where the child has stopped responding to contractions of the mother’s uterus. To solve all these problems, a specific catheter is inserted into the uterine cavity, at the end of which there are electrodes. They attach to the surface of the fetal head. With their help, the work of the child’s body, the dynamics of many processes are determined, the tactics of further birth are built, vital decisions are made.
Apparatus for CTG
Having familiarized themselves with the benefits of the examination, many will have a question, how do CTGs do? Using a special apparatus, which consists of two sensors. They are interconnected by a device that records sound. The first sensor monitors the baby’s heartbeat, and the second - uterine contractions and baby reflexes. If you figured out the device, let's move on to how CTG is done.
Both sensors attach to the surface of the abdomen of the expectant mother. In addition, each of them is lubricated with gel, which is also used for ultrasound. In the hands of the pregnant woman is given a remote control on which there is one button. It must be pressed when the woman feels the baby is moving. At this point in its activity, changes in the heartbeat of the fetus are analyzed. As in the case of the cardiogram, all results are reflected on paper in the form of a curve. It is analyzed by a doctor, but modern devices independently calculate the results and set points.
Pregnant preparation
We determined what CTG is. You realized that this examination is a bit like an ultrasound, so special preparation for it will not be required. You should be aware that the procedure lasts for approximately 60 minutes. Therefore, you can bring along a book or something else so that time passes faster and more comfortably. You can have a bite before the procedure, since you can not be hungry. But you should not overeat.
The most necessary thing you should take with you is a good mood. It is advisable to tune in a positive mood before CTG. It is important to take a comfortable position. You can lie down, but not on your back, but on your side. In addition, you can go through the reclining procedure.
What if the child does not want to be active, so the research process is delayed? Do not worry about this. You just need to eat something. It should not be heavy food, but a light snack. At this moment, the baby will probably begin to move, which means that the results will not be long in coming.
If you are concerned about the question of where to do CTG, do not worry. The doctor conducting the pregnancy will definitely tell you. Often this is done in antenatal clinics or in paid centers.
Results. main parameters
As we said earlier, the results are issued on modern equipment in the form of points. Therefore, the process of decoding CTG of the fetus is important. All indicators have their own assessment, which ranges from 0 to 2. These criteria include the basal rhythm, amplitude, the process of increasing the heart rate or its decrease, and other important data. All points for each position are added up. The result is the amount. The specialist must tell the expectant mother about her and make an oral explanation, comparing the indicators with the CTG norm of the fetus:
- A result of 9 to 12 units means that the baby is doing well, he normally responds to uterine contractions, there are no deviations. Further monitoring of pregnancy may occur as planned.
- 6 to 8 points means that the baby has moderate signs of hypoxia. Having obtained such results, the specialist appoints a re-examination, which is carried out the next day or every other day. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is prescribed.
- 5 or less points indicate pronounced oxygen starvation of the fetus. This is an indication for emergency events. Sometimes it's a cesarean section.
Basal rhythm
The device also captures the heart rate of the child. In this case, decryption of CTG of the fetus is not required. If the figure ranges from 110 to 160 beats, you should not worry, as this is the norm. In medicine, an indicator is called a basal rhythm. The graph clearly illustrates falls and highs, so the doctor evaluates the picture, not paying attention to the numerical indicators. Do not worry if the results are not clear to you, trust a specialist. Remember that it is important not only where to do CTG, but also who makes it. A good specialist will always provide an explanation. If it is not, then consult a gynecologist conducting a pregnancy. He will explain everything to you.
Is CTG dangerous?
This procedure is completely painless and safe. She has no contraindications. CTG will not harm the baby and will not negatively affect the health of the mother. On the contrary, the results will help eliminate the threat or prevent the occurrence of deviations and diseases. Recall that the results must be analyzed in conjunction with other data from studies, blood tests, ultrasound. Do not worry if you are prescribed a referral to CTG every week. Perhaps your gynecologist wants to double-check something. This happens especially often if the results are not perfect. No exposure of the child and the action of harmful impulses does not occur, so feel free to go through this procedure.
Who is prescribed CTG
Many pregnant women are concerned about whether everyone should undergo such an examination. Some ask why they do not appoint him. We hasten to reassure you, CTG is prescribed if there is evidence for this. As we determined earlier, examination can detect pathologies, such as hypoxia or polyhydramnios. If, according to the results of ultrasound, blood tests and other studies, the gynecologist who conducts your pregnancy notes the presence of abnormalities or threats, he will be sent to CTG.
If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, and all tests are without deviations, CTG is not necessary. Although some doctors are reinsured, therefore, from the 32nd week of pregnancy they direct the expectant mother to conduct an examination. The main thing is not to worry and not worry.
As practice shows, CTG may not be done throughout pregnancy, but during the period of childbirth they connect the device and monitor the process. There is nothing wrong. On the contrary, in some cases, for example, stimulation is required, CTG will be of great help to doctors.
CTG value
Throughout pregnancy, a woman will have to do many tests, undergo a series of examinations, many of which will need to be carried out regularly. All this is done only so that the process of bearing a child takes place without deviations, because the birth of a healthy child is true happiness.
Cardiotocography is one of the many types of examinations that are prescribed for pregnant women. Increasingly, CTG is used to track the dynamics of the development of the child in the third trimester. After all, an unfavorable environment, stresses, an improper lifestyle threaten the full development of the baby. Do not forget that many pregnant women continue to work, which also affects the state of their body. In this article, we not only defined the concept of the study, but also described the decoding of the results, noted how long the CTG can start, when to conduct it more effectively. We also determined the nuances and features of the procedure.