Using fetal pulse oximetry to assess the baby's well-being during labour does not change overall caesarean section rates.
During labour, the well-being of the baby can be assessed intermittently using a Pinard stethoscope or hand held monitor, or continuously using cardiotocography (CTG, sometimes called electronic fetal monitoring, EFM) or assessing the baby's condition with an electrocardiogram (ECG). There are also additional tests that can be used if the baby is thought to be getting short of oxygen, like testing the baby's blood in a sample taken from the baby's head or bottom. A new method, fetal pulse oximetry, measures how much oxygen the baby's blood is carrying. It uses a probe that sits inside the vagina during labour. The probe is said not to inhibit the woman's mobility during labour. This review looked at fetal pulse oximetry and only found trials that used it in conjunction with a CTG and compared the combined use with CTG alone. The review identified six trials involving 7654 women. Fetal pulse oximetry plus CTG showed no difference in caesarean section rates overall, nor any difference in the mother's or newborn's health, compared with CTG alone. If there was concern about the baby's well-being before the fetal pulse oximetry probe was placed, the use of fetal pulse oximetry reduced caesarean sections performed for the baby's well-being. In one of the trials, the company making the fetal pulse oximetry machines provided some funding. Further trials may be helpful.