In ECG, the electrical activity of the heart is measured. In adults, this is achieved with self-adhesive electrodes placed on the chest. From research and adult cardiology, we are aware of the fact that heart rate, heart rate inconsistency, and other constraints resultant from the ECG can give a lot of info.

At the time of pregnancy and labor, it is significant to have info regarding the fetal condition. In addition, with the perception of fetal movements by the mother and sonography, we can make a register of the fetal heart rate through the belly of a pregnant mother. 

Since the fetus is carefully protected in the womb, it is unreachable for direct measurements throughout pregnancy. At the present time, heart rate registration is achieved as “cardiotocography”; registering of the heart rate is done with a Doppler system, detection of heartbeats as a reflection from moving parts of the embryonic heart. Concurrently, the womb contractions are recorded. Though, cardiotocography is susceptible to loss of signal, inadvertent maternal heart rate monitoring, and signal artefacts and it does not deliver the heart rate as a beat-to-beat signal.

A fetal ECG can be attained non-intrusively with electrodes on the mother’s abdomen. In a research, eight electrodes are utilized, of which 6 fetal ECG electrodes, one reference, and one ground electrode. For each of the six fetal electrodes, the difference in voltage calculated between a recording electrode and the reference electrode is considered. By means of multi-lead recordings, we can syndicate different leads for increasing the signal quality and to permit recombination of lead to rebuilding the standard Einthoven leads.

The probability of recording good fetal ECG signals in a minimum of one of the electrodes is maximized by dispersal of the electrodes over the womb. A transportable prototype recording and storing device is utilized to process the recordings. Numerous filters are applied and the ECG of the mother is detached by weighted around maternal ECG segments. By spatially uniting the signals of 6 fetal ElectroCardioGraphy channels, the signal-to-noise proportion is improved. After the detection process of the R-peaks in the fetal Electrocardiography, a beat-to-beat heart rate signal is fashioned.

Several Uses of fetal ECG Process

•    Fetal ECG is a capable diagnostic tool for complementing the screening for CHD. It imitates the close relation between the conduction system and the operational morphology of the heart, and it is mainly helpful in the detection of the electrophysiological outcomes of cardiac anatomical flaws.

•    Study the outcome on heart rate and heart rate inconsistency of drugs that are managed during susceptible preterm birth. Subsequently, heart rate inconsistency is the most reliable indicator of fetal wellbeing, it is important to know the precise influence of drugs that are frequently directed in obstetric care. 

•    At the time of labor, when the water has broken and there are a few centimeters of enlargement, the fetal ECG can be recorded straight with the help of an electrode attached to the fetal head. With the aim of detecting oxygen shortage throughout delivery, “ST monitoring” can be done. In this, the fetal ECG is analyzed to detect signs of fetal agony and the monitor can give an alarm.

This type of ECG is done to ensure that the heart of the embryo and the mother are working well.  The demand for ECG cables and leads is increasing and will reach a value of around 3,072 million by the end of this decade.