Non-invasive monitoring of foetal cardiac activities and uterine contractile activities

This work discusses the recording and analysis of uterine contractile and foetal electrocardiographic (FECG) signals to monitor accurately the foetal wellbeing as well as the efficiency of the uterine muscle. Contraction signals from 3 different zones of the uterine muscles have been picked up along with the FECG signal non-invasively. The uterine contractile signals are picked up using 3 pairs of electrodes. The FECG and the uterine contractile pattern from the fundus or the uterus to the pubic region are picked up using a pair of electrodes. For these two recordings, the right leg of the mother is used as the reference. Uterine contractile signals in different zones allow one to determine the degree and the frequency of contraction at various heights of the uterus. This signal along with the variation in foetal heart rate derived from the FECG give information about the wellbeing of the foetus