Limitations of current fetal monitoring technology

Continuous recordings with a cardiotocograph are confused with the concept of monitoring. One of the continuing problems is ensuring that recordings are properly monitored by the clinical staff. Previous simplistic attempts at producing true monitors which failed to work inhibited the development of more sophisticated approaches which modern technology now make possible. The use of computers in this field would not only reduce the monitoring load on the staff but also have advantages in data storage, data transfer and in audit. The profession has failed to demand, and the manufacturers to offer, the advantages of modern technology which could improve our level of intra-partum care.