Overview
Internal fetal monitoring involves placing a electrode directly on the fetal scalp through the cervix. This test is performed to evaluate fetal heart rate and variability between beats, especially in relation to the uterine contractions of labor.
Review Date 5/14/2024
Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.