Intermittent Fetal Monitoring or Continous Fetal Monitoring ?

I had never previously considered whether to have the "baby monitor" on all the time or just have it checked every now and then. I guess I figured the more monitoring the baby gets the better. With my previous births, in the hospital, this is just how it was. I was discouraged to take the monitor off, even though there was no complications. I do regret this decision now, looking back. Here is why.

*The continuous monitor limited my mobility.
* Limited mobility causes more pain during labor.
* Decreased mobility decreases circulation which decreases oxygen to the baby.  The decreased oxygen changes the heart rate of the baby, and the monitor detects the problem.

(It is ironic how the continuous monitor is the initial problem, and ends up detecting what problem it causes.)

Now I do have to say that if you have an epidural then I can understand being on a monitor because of all the risk and complications that an epidural can cause... your mobility Is going to definitely be limited, and you are adding More Risk to you and your baby and need to be monitored more closely.

* Another reason why I regret having previously been on a continuous monitor... (Not sure why) but I hated calling the nurse over and over to come "hook me back up."
I now see that if I was up and moving more then my labor would have gone a lot faster (with my first and third birth). My second was so fast, but I think it was because I was walking and sitting up until we got to the hospital and he was born.

Still more reasons...

* The doctors and nurses focus more on the monitor than the patient.
( I was a witness to this when I was in nursing school and did my labor and delivery rotation. )

Something new that I have learned...

According to new research (many websites are now saying)

Continuous monitoring Increases your chance of having and unnecessary C-Section. What ? Really ?
 

I was reading this one website that just casually mentions this in their article. It states.
(EFM stands for Electronic fetal monitoring)

"Besides the risk of an unnecessary cesarean section , other risks posed to the mother by EFM include her immobilization in bed. Immobilization simultaneously limits changing positions for comfort and causes changes in blood circulation, which decreases the oxygen supply to the fetus and can lead to abnormal changes in the FHR on the EFM that was applied to detect these changes. Another problem with the use of the EFM is that practitioners have a tendency to focus on it instead of the laboring woman. For these and other reasons, the United States Preventive Services Task Force states that there is some evidence that using EFM on low-risk women in labor might not be indicated. EFM, however, has become an accepted standard of care in many settings in the United States for management of labor. Interestingly, there has not been a reported reduction in perinatal morbidity in the United States with the use of EFM. There is a benefit to using EFM in women with complicated labors, such as those induced or augmented with oxytocin, prolonged labors, vaginal birth after having a cesarean section, abnormal presentation, and twin pregnancy. Link to website


I noticed that it basically said that even though the EFM seems to doing more harm than good, the practice in the U.S. is to still use it. ("has become accepted standard of care") 


So again I am just sharing this journey of research with you, as I learn what is best for me and my baby during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.