Assessment of fetal wellbeing

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• demonstrate improved knowledge of intrapartum monitoring
• identify cases at risk of intrapartum hypoxia
• interpret cardiotocographic (CTG) abnormalities that might suggest hypoxia
• improve your decision-making in intrapartum management and improve your ability to act appropriately to avoid intrapartum hypoxic events
• describe issues related to intrapartum hypoxia and neurological outcome and the risk of hypoxic perinatal morbidity and mortality
• describe adjuvant tests of fetal wellbeing.

Dr Neeraja Yeddula MRCOG (2015, 2016)

At the time of writing, Dr Yeddula was a Senior Registrar (post-CCT) at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.

Fadi Alfhaily MRCOG (2014, 2015 2016)

Dr Alfhaily is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

The content of this course relates to the following Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and key skills:

CiP 1: Clinical skills and patient care
Facilitates discussions

CiP 6: Developing self & others
Commits to continued learning

CiP 7: Innovation and research
Critical thinking

CiP 8: Educator
Effective teaching

CiP 10: Emergency obstetrics
Manages intrapartum fetal surveillance
Manages emergency birth, postpartum problems
Manages labour ward

CiP 12: Non-emergency obstetrics
Manages fetal concerns

Further details about each CiP can be found within the O&G Core Curriculum 2024 Definitive Document, available here .

Jain S, Acharya N. Fetal Wellbeing Monitoring: A Review Article. Cureus 2022;14(9):e29039.

Pan WL, Chen LL, Gau ML. Accuracy of non-invasive methods for assessing the progress of labor in the first stage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022;22:608.

Narain S, McEwan A. Antenatal assessment of fetal well-being. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine 2023.33(8):P217-224.

National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence. Intrapartum care. NICE guideline. NG235. London; NICE: 2023.

Sacco A, Muglu J, Navaratnarajah R, Hogg M. ST analysis for intrapartum fetal monitoring. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2015;17:5–12.