Routine electronic monitoring of fetal heart rate and uterine activity during labor.

Routine electronic monitoring has been performed on 2411 labor patients at Booth Memorial Medical Center. Most recently, 88% of all patients delivered were monitored. As a direct result of this program, intrapartum stillbirths have been dramatically reduced from 1.2/1000 livebirths to 0.5/1000 livebirths. Perinatal mortality for fetuses over 1000 g has fallen to 8.8/1000 deliveries. Apgar scores below 6 at 5 minutes have decreased from a rate of 24/1000 to 14/1000 livebirths. No increase in cesarean sections for fetal distress has occurred although the primary cesarean section rate has increased over the past 10 years, apparently unrelated to fetal monitoring. It is strongly recommended that all patients in labor be monitored by currently available technics.