Equipment to support IA
These resources are designed to address issues with the equipment and physical environment of the birthing room that are required to support safe, high quality IA practice.
Why is this important?
Available, adequate essential equipment and other supplies are critical for provision of optimal quality care.
Intermittent auscultation is carried out using a Pinard stethoscope and/or a Doppler ultrasound device.
Pinard stethoscope
Using a Pinard is a key midwifery skill. A Pinard allows the midwife to hear, in real time, the actual sounds of the opening and closing of the fetal heart valves.
Doppler devices
There are three types of Doppler device available to undertake IA.
There is no evidence that one type of device or method of listening to or reading the fetal heart rate during IA, is easier to perform, or is more effective at identifying intrapartum fetal heart rate abnormalities.
Why is this important?
Pinards and all three types of Doppler device are in use across the UK, but the availability and use of different devices varied. Midwives were not always confident with the device and/or counting method that they were required to use in practice.
Listen2Baby recommends that midwives are supported to use a device with which they feel confident and are able to use over prolonged periods.
This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)