FIGO CONSENSUS GUIDELINES ON

INTRAPARTUM FETAL MONITORING

Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health Committee
Co-ordinator: Diogo Ayres-de-Campos

INTERMITTENT AUSCULTATION
Debrah Lewis, Soo Downe, for the FIGO intrapartum fetal monitoring consensus panel.

Consensus panel: Daniel Surbek (Switzerland*), Gabriela Caracostea (Romania*), Yves Jacquemyn (Belgium*),
Susana Santo (Portugal*), Lennart Nordström (Sweden*), Tulia Todros (Italy*), Branka Yli (Norway*), George
Farmakidis (Greece*), Sandor Valent (Hungary*), Bruno Carbonne (France*), Kati Ojala (Finland*), José Luis
Bartha (Spain*), Joscha Reinhard (Germany*), Anneke Kwee (Netherlands*), Romano Byaruhanga (Uganda*),
Ehigha Enabudoso (Nigeria*), Fadi Mirza (Lebanon*), Tak Yeung Leung (Hong Kong*), Ramon Reyles
(Philippines*), Park In Yang (South Korea*), Henry Murray (Australia and New Zealand*), Yuen
Tannirandorn (Thailand*), Krishna Kumar (Malaysia*), Taghreed Alhaidary (Iraq*), Tomoaki Ikeda (Japan*),
Ferdousi Begum (Bangladesh*), Jorge Carvajal (Chile*), José Teppa (Venezuela*), Renato Sá (Brasil*), Lawrence
Devoe (USA**), Gerard Visser (Netherlands**), Richard Paul (USA**), Barry Schifrin (USA**), Julian Parer (USA**),
Philip Steer (UK**), Vincenzo Berghella (USA**), Isis Amer-Wahlin (Sweden**), Susanna Timonen (Finland**),
Austin Ugwumadu (UK**), João Bernardes (Portugal**), Justo Alonso (Uruguay**), Sabaratnam Arulkumaran
(UK**), Cathy Y. Spong (USA**), Edwin Chandraharan (UK**), Diogo Ayres-de-Campos (Portugal**).

* nominated by FIGO associated national society; ** invited by FIGO based on literature search

The views expressed in this document reflect the opinion of the individuals and not necessarily of the institutions
that they represent.

INTRODUCTION
Intermittent auscultation (IA) is defined as the technique of listening to the fetal
heart rate (FHR) for short periods of time without a display of the resulting pattern.
Whether it be used for intrapartum fetal monitoring in low-risk women or for all cases in
settings where there are no available alternatives, all healthcare professionals attending
labor and delivery need to be skilled at performing IA, interpreting its findings, and taking
appropriate action. The main aim of this chapter is to describe the tools and techniques
for IA in labor.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Hippocrates is said to have described the technique of listening to the internal
activity of the body by placing the ear on the skin proximal to the organ under
examination. However, the perception of fetal heart sounds using this method was not
reported until the 1600’s 1 . Little notice appears to have been taken of fetal heart
auscultation until 1818, when it was discussed by both Mayor and de Kergaradec 2, to
determine whether the fetus was alive or dead. Interest then accelerated, and in 1833
Kennedy published a book on the subject of obstetric auscultation 3.
The first recorded use of an amplification device for auscultation of the adult heart
rate is attributed to Laënnec in 1816, who overcame the embarrassment of placing the ear
on a young woman’s chest to hear her heart beat, by rolling sheets of paper into a tube
and listening through this device 2. This tool was soon replicated in wood, and gained
wide usage for fetal heart auscultation. The most common instrument currently used for
this purpose is the Pinard stethoscope (Figs. 1 and 2), but in some countries, notably the

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US, the DeLee stethoscope is used as an alternative (Fig. 3). In both cases, the technology
has not changed much from the original design, in which a belled tube creates an
amplification chamber for sound waves that are transmitted from the fetal heart to the
examiner’s ear.
More recently, handheld electronic devices that rely on the Doppler effect have
been used for IA (Fig. 4), a technology similar to the external FHR monitoring of
cardiotocography (CTG). However, as described in Chapter 3, these devices do not
transmit the actual sound produced by the fetal heart, but rather a representation of this,
based on ultrasound-detected movements of fetal cardiac structures, that are then
subject to signal modification and autocorrelation.

Advantages Disadvantages
Pinard Inexpensive May be difficult to use in certain
stethoscope Readily available in most countries maternal positions
No consumables needed
DeLee Inexpensive May be difficult to use in certain
stethoscope Readily available in some countries maternal positions
No consumables needed
Handheld More comfortable for the woman More costly to purchase and
Doppler FHR audible to all present in the room maintain (requires batteries)
Can be used in various maternal Probe is very sensitive to
positions and locations (e.g. in water) mechanical damage
May calculate and display FHR values May display maternal heart rate
Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of the instruments used for IA

OBJECTIVES AND INDICATIONS

As for other approaches to fetal monitoring, the main aim of IA is the timely
identification of fetuses with hypoxia/acidosis to enable appropriate action before the
occurrence of injury. It also allows the confirmation of normal FHR characteristics, so
that unnecessary intervention will be avoided. Systematic reviews of randomised
controlled trials carried out in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, comparing IA with
continuous CTG for intrapartum monitoring in both low- and high-risk women, have
shown that CTG is associated with a lower risk of neonatal seizures, but with higher
cesarean section and instrumental vaginal delivery rates 4. The limitations of this
evidence are analysed in Chapter 3. There is currently no conclusive evidence for the
benefits of continuous CTG versus IA monitoring in labour. There are also no trials
comparing IA with no FHR auscultation during labor.
Based on expert opinion, IA should be recommended in all labours in settings
where there is no access to CTG monitors or to the resources necessary for using them.
When the resources for CTG monitoring are available, IA may be used for routine
intrapartum monitoring in low-risk cases (Table 2). However, approximately half of the
panel members believe that continuous CTG should be the option during the second stage
of labour, although there is no direct scientific evidence to support this.

Antepartum factors Intrapartum factors

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 No serious previous maternal health conditions Normal frequency of contractions
No maternal diabetes or pre-eclampsia No labor induction or augmentation
No antenatal vaginal hemorrhage No epidural analgesia
Normal fetal growth, amniotic fluid and Doppler No abnormal vaginal hemorrhage
Normal antenatal CTGs No fresh or thick meconium
No previous uterine scar No maternal temperature > 38ºC
Normal fetal movements Active first stage lasting < 12 hours
No rupture of membranes lasting > 24 hours Second stage lasting < 1 hour
Singleton, term, cephalic presentation Clearly audible FHR sounds in normal range
Table 2. Conditions required for considering and maintaining IA in settings where CTG is
available 5.

ADVANTAGES OF IA
Performing regular IA ensures frequent contact between healthcare professionals
and the laboring woman, offering the opportunity for social and clinical support. It
facilitates the assessment of other physical parameters such as maternal skin tone,
temperature, breathing patterns, direct palpation of fetal movements and maternal
contractions.
IA permits the fetal heart to be monitored in various positions and locations and
favors the mobility of laboring women, which has been shown to benefit the progress of
labor 6. Another benefit of IA is the easier availability and sustainability of the technology,
which allows it to be undertaken in even the lowest resource settings.

DISADVANTAGES OF IA
It takes time to develop clinical expertise with IA when performed with a fetal
stethoscope 7,8. Initially it may not be easy to recognize the fetal heart sounds, and later
there is a slow learning curve for the identification of accelerations and decelerations.
Even for the most experienced healthcare professionals, it is impossible to recognize
subtle features of the FHR, such as variability. Using fetal stethoscopes, awkward
positions sometimes need to be adopted for effective auscultation and therefore
healthcare professionals should ensure good ergonomic position for themselves and the
laboring woman when using IA. Also with these instruments, there is no independent
record of the FHR and usually no confirmation of the findings by other healthcare
professionals, or by those in the room. This may cause uncertainty in case reviews and
medical-legal cases.
Many of these disadvantages are overcome by the use of a handheld Doppler.
When the latter includes a display showing the FHR, even low variability may be
suspected. On the other hand, as occurs with external FHR monitoring in CTG, the device
can inadvertently pick up the maternal heart rate.
Whichever method of IA is used, it may be difficult to guarantee the continued
availability of appropriately trained staff to attend laboring women in busy labor units.

TECHNIQUE FOR PERFORMING IA

Before IA is initiated, a clear explanation of the technique and its purpose should
be provided to the laboring woman, and her consent obtained. This is followed by an
assessment of the fetal position on abdominal palpation, and placement of the
stethoscope or handheld Doppler over the fetal back, as this is where the heart rate will
usually be heard most clearly. Searching for sounds produced by the fetal heart (usually
compared to a “galloping horse”) rather than those created by fetal vessels (“whoosh”
sounds) allows for a clearer distinction from maternal heart rate. Simultaneous evaluation
of the maternal pulse provides additional reassurance that the FHR is being monitored.
Just before and during IA, a hand is placed on the uterine fundus to determine the timing
of uterine contractions and to detect fetal movements. If the fetal heart cannot be

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identified unambiguously, ultrasound should be used when available to determine the
FHR and to establish the optimal location for IA.
There are no studies comparing the benefit of different auscultation intervals. In
large randomised trials comparing CTG with IA, the latter was usually performed every 15
minutes in the first stage and every 5 minutes or after every other contraction in the
second stage 4. While it is recognized that recommendations for the scheduling of IA are
based only on expert opinion, standardisation of procedures is important for planning of
healthcare and for medical-legal purposes. The recommendations for performing IA are
considered in Table 3.

Features to evaluate What to register

Duration: for at least 60 seconds; for 3 Baseline (as a single
FHR contractions if the FHR is not always in counted number in bpm),
the normal range (110-160 bpm). presence or absence of
Timing: during and at least 30 seconds accelerations and
after a contraction. decelerations.
Interval: Every 15 minutes in the active
phase of the 1st stage of labor. Every 5
minutes in the 2nd stage of labor.
Uterine Before and during FHR auscultation, in Frequency in 10 minutes
contractions order to detect at least two contractions.
Fetal At the same time as evaluation of uterine Presence or absence
movements contractions.
Maternal At the time of FHR auscultation. Single counted number in
heart rate bpm
Table 3. Practice recommendations for IA, uterine contraction and maternal heart rate
monitoring during labor.

All features listed in Table 3 should be recorded in dedicated labor charts, to

provide an ongoing account of their evolution, and to share information between
caregivers who are or may become involved in the process.

ABNORMAL FINDINGS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

In settings where continuous CTG is available

Abnormal findings on IA are listed in Table 4. If there is doubt as to the
characterization of FHR findings, auscultation should be prolonged in order to cover at
least 3 contractions.

Baseline Below 110 bpm or above 160 bpm

Decelerations Presence of repetitive or prolonged (>3 minutes) decelerations
Contractions More than 5 contractions in a 10 minute period
Table 4. Abnormal findings on IA.

A FHR value under 110 bpm lasting more than 3 minutes, when the rate has
previously been normal, is very suggestive of a prolonged deceleration or of fetal
bradycardia, and constitutes an indication for immediate continuous CTG. A FHR value
exceeding 160 bpm during three contractions is very suggestive of fetal tachycardia, and
constitutes an indication for continuous CTG.
Sometimes, decelerations occur due to the maternal supine position and resulting
aorto-caval compression. Changing the maternal position may quickly revert the

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situation. However, if a rapid normalization does not ensue, or if repetitive or prolonged
decelerations are detected, continuous CTG should be started.
Most accelerations coincide with fetal movements detected by the mother and/or
the healthcare professional, and are a sign of fetal wellbeing. However, accelerations
occurring just after a contraction do not usually translate fetal movements and should
motivate auscultation over at least 3 contractions in order to rule out the occurrence of
decelerations.
An interval between two contractions of less than 2 minutes, should lead to
evaluation of uterine contractions over 10 minutes. More than 5 contractions detected
during this period is considered tachysystole (see Chapter 3). This constitutes an
indication for continuous CTG, at least until the situation is reversed.
If assessment of the parameters described in Table 3 and the general behavior of
the mother indicate the continuous wellbeing of both mother and baby, IA may continue
to be the technique of choice for labor.

In settings where continuous CTG is not available

If a FHR value under 110 bpm lasting more than 5 minutes is detected, in the
absence of maternal hypothermia, known fetal heart block, or beta-blocker therapy,
consideration should be given to immediate delivery by cesarean section or instrumental
vaginal delivery, according to obstetric conditions and local resources.
A FHR value exceeding 160 bpm during at least 3 contractions is suggestive of
fetal tachycardia, and should motivate an evaluation of maternal temperature and signs
of intrauterine infection. Beta-agonists drugs (salbutamol, terbutaline, ritodrine, fenoterol)
and parasympathetic blockers (atropine, escopolamine) are other possible causes. With
isolated fetal tachycardia, increased frequency of IA and treatment of pyrexia and/or
infection need to be considered.
Repetitive decelerations are frequent during the second stage of labor and may
occur as a result of aorto-caval, umbilical cord or fetal head compression. Changing the
maternal position may revert the first two causes. However, if decelerations start more
than 20 seconds after the onset of a contraction and take more than 30 seconds to
recover to baseline values (late decelerations), or when decelerations last more than 3
minutes (prolonged decelerations), this is very suggestive of fetal hypoxia/acidosis. If an
accompanying tachysystole is detected, consideration should be given to acute tocolysis
with beta-adrenegic agonists (salbutamol, terbutaline, ritodrine), atosiban, or
nitroglycerine (see Chapter 1), followed by continued auscultation to document the
normalization of the pattern. Sudden maternal hypotension rarely happens during labour
in the absence of conduction analgesia, but should it occur in association with a fetal
deceleration, increased intravenous fluid administration turning the mother to her side
and administering intravenous ephedrine will usually revert the situation. When late
and/or prolonged decelerations are documented during the second stage of labour the
mother should be asked to stop pushing until this pattern disappears. If there is no rapid
reversal of late and/or prolonged decelerations, consideration should be given to
immediate delivery, by cesarean section or instrumental vaginal delivery, according to
obstetric conditions and local resources.

References

1. O’Dowd MJ, Philipp EE. The history of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Parthenon Publishing Group; New York:
1994.
2. Freeman RK, Garite TJ, Nageotte MP, Miller LA. History of fetal monitoring. In: Fetal heart rate monitoring.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia: 2012
3. Kennedy E. Observations on obstetric auscultation. Hodges and Smith; Dublin: 1833.
https://archive.org/details/observationob1833kenn (accessed 17 Nov 2014).
4. Alfirevic Z, Devane D, Gyte GM. Continuous cardiotocography (CTG) as a form of electronic fetal monitoring
(EFM) for fetal assessment during labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;5:CD006066.

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8. Maude RM, Skinner JP, Foureur MJ. Intelligent Structured Intermittent Auscultation (ISIA): evaluation of a
decision-making framework for fetal heart monitoring of low-risk women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
2014;14:184.
6. Lawrence A, Lewis L, Hofmeyr GJ, Styles C. Maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Aug 20;8:CD003934.
7. Miller FC, Pearse KE, Paul RH. Fetal heart rate pattern recognition by the method of auscultation. Obstet
Gynecol 1984;64:332-6.
8. Schifrin BS, Amsel J, Burdorf G. The accuracy of auscultatory detection of fetal cardiac decelerations: a
computer simulation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;166:566-76.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 4