Non-Contact and Wireless Wearable Technologies for Neonatal Vital Sign Monitoring in the Delivery Room-A Scoping...

Vital sign monitoring immediately after birth is a necessity to aid the transition to life, especially in the context of resuscitation. Current monitoring systems pose challenges due to their wired nature. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe non-contact and wireless vital sign monitoring technologies used immediately after birth and summarize their capabilities and any research gaps to better understand the current state of wireless monitoring in the delivery room setting.

The review followed the JBI 9-step framework and PRISMA-ScR guidance. Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane for studies published from 1 January 2015 to 1 October 2025, with additional reference screening of included articles. Study and device characteristics and study outcomes (i.e., accuracy, feasibility, safety) were collected via a data collection form and analyzed and presented by descriptive methods.

The search yielded 59,220 records; after duplicate removal and screening, seven full articles were included, one additional article was added through cross-reference screening. All eight studies were conducted in hospital delivery rooms, mostly as prospective observational designs, involving newborns of various gestational ages and weights, with a median of 29 [IQR:35] participants per study. All eight studies evaluated wearable devices. Heart rate was the most commonly monitored vital sign, and Bluetooth was the main data transfer method. Recording periods were mostly under 10 min.

New monitoring technologies used immediately after birth are emerging, but data remains preliminary and limited by small studies with short recording periods. Future work should emphasize standardized device placement, larger samples with longer monitoring periods, rigorous accuracy and safety evaluation, and devices that can capture multiple vital signs reliably.