What tools and techniques does Hilary Erickson recommend for fetal monitoring during labor?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse. How can I help?

For fetal monitoring in labor, I talk about a few main tools and options:

• Continuous electronic monitoring with:

  • External ultrasound for baby’s heart rate
  • TOCO on the belly for contractions
  • Sometimes internal tools like an FSE (fetal scalp electrode) or an IUPC if we need more precise data

• Wireless/telemetry monitors (like the Monica/Novii or telemetry boxes on an IV pole) so you can move, sit on a ball, get in different positions, and sometimes even use water, depending on your hospital’s equipment

• Intermittent auscultation with a Doppler for truly low‑risk labors in hospitals that support it, which can reduce cesarean rates but requires specific policies and skilled staff

I also emphasize:

• Moving at least every 30 minutes when you’re not asleep, even with wired monitors
• Using positions and tools like a yoga ball, doctor’s stool, lunges at the bedside, hands-and-knees, peanut ball, and dancing/swaying while staying on the monitor
• Talking with your provider well before labor if you want less continuous monitoring or are considering refusing parts of it, so you understand risks and what your hospital actually offers

What kind of birth are you planning (induced, epidural, unmedicated, VBAC, etc.) so I can share what’s most realistic for your situation?