Maternal satisfaction and acceptability of foetal electrocardiographic (STAN®) monitoring system

To assess the acceptability of the foetal electrocardiographic (STAN®) monitoring system by patients at a London Hospital, before its introduction into routine clinical care.

This was a prospective questionnaire-based study of patients who were monitored in labour by foetal electrocardiographic (STAN®) monitoring system.

Ninety-three percent (CI 85, 98) of the patients felt that the midwife(s) responsible for their intrapartum care took time to explain why their babies were being monitored continuously in the first instance. Ninety-nine percent (CI 93, 99.9) of patients felt that the obstetricians explained why they were being monitored continuously in labour. After delivering and having been monitored with STAN® 95% (CI 87, 99) of women felt that it was an acceptable way of monitoring their babies in labour.

In resource-limited organisation, such as the NHS, holistic approach to intrapartum care may sometimes feel difficult to achieve. However, with emphasis on women centred care and information sharing women are able to understand and comment on intrapartum monitoring systems.