Port Moresby Medical Laboratories (POMMEDLAB)

Cardiotocography-CTG

 

How is it done?

A small Doppler device (similar to ultrasound) is strapped to the woman's belly, to pick up the baby's heartbeat.  Another pressure-sensitive transducer called tocodynamometer (toco), is strapped to the top of the woman's belly (or the fundus of the uterus) and measures the strength and frequency of uterine contraction.  The pattern of the baby's heart rate as uterine muscle tightens is monitored in an attempt to check health of the baby. This is plotted on a graph as shown below.

 

Who should take the test?

The test is usually taken after 18 weeks of pregnancy and during labour. You should consider CTG if you:

· Suspect your child is distressed/compromised

· Are over-due by date (>40 weeks)

· Feel you are in early labour

· Do not feel baby’s movement/kicks

· Have history of previous fetal distress or miscarriage

· Have diabetes

· Have hypertension

· Have vaginal bleeding

 

How long does it take to perform the tests?

The test only takes less than 40minutes. A continuous readings are traced onto a piece of paper for about 20 to 30 minutes. An example of a normal tracing is shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What if my report is abnormal?

The CTG tracing is either reported as reassuring (normal tracing) or non-reassuring. A non-reassuring CTG tracing does not always suggest fetal distress. You will be referred for further specialist review. In some cases, a non-reassuring tracing especially during labour pain may be considered as a sign to induce the labour, or deliver the baby by Caesarean.

 

How accurate is the test?

 

As with many investigative tests, there are both false positives and negatives. Your report should be discussed with your specialist as the readings should be interpreted with over-all history of progress of your pregnancy.

 

Is there any side effect?

A CTG test is very safe except for small discomfort from gel and CTG probes or electrodes placed on your abdomen.

Electronic Fetal Monitoring (Cardiotocography)

What is CTG?

 

This an Electronic Monitoring of foetus in pregnancy. A cardiotocograph (CTG) is a record (trace) of the foetal heart rate. In addition to the foetal heart rate another transducer measures the uterine contractions over the fundus.

Fetal Heart rate

Uterine contraction