MDWF 2080

Course Description

This course offers a thorough review of fetal heart surveillance procedures while encouraging critical thinking. It discusses the physiological basis and instrumentation of antepartum and intrapartum monitoring including intermittent auscultation, electronic fetal monitoring, and ultrasound. The course teaches what AAT (Auscultated Acceleration Test) is and how we can use it prenatally and during labor. The second part of the class is about problems that can arise, like baseline changes, bradycardia, tachycardia, sinusoidal pattern and periodic and nonperiodic changes. The assignments include several case study evaluations. This course will support the learner to use various instruments for fetal heart surveillance, recognize possible causes if the heart rate is non-reassuring, confidently interpret the results and take the appropriate steps to ensure optimal fetal outcomes. Students will also discuss access to technology and testing locally and globally and examine how inequities are evident even at the level of fetal heart tones and can result in increased referral for cesarean section in labor in the absence of racially/ethnically congruent care. Charting, communication, and transfers of care are also considered.

Learning Objectives:

1. Physiological bases for fetal heart monitoring

2. Instruments used for fetal heart rate and uterine activity monitoring

3. Determination of baseline fetal heart rate

4. Recognizing bradycardia, tachycardia, periodic and nonperiodic changes

5. Determination of possible causes if the heart rate is non-reassuring

6. Taking the appropriate steps if the heart rate is non-reassuring

7. Antepartum fetal heart rate monitoring

PREREQUISITE: MDWF 2010 and must be in Clinical Placement or currently a CPM/RM - completed May, 2021

2 credits

(Midwives College of Utah, 2022).