Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999

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Listening to your baby’s heart beat in labour

Most babies go through labour and are born without any problems. But there are a few babies who have problems. The best way of finding out when a baby is having problems is to listen to their heartbeat regularly during labour.

During contractions, blood flow slows to the placenta (also known as the afterbirth). This is normal and most babies cope without having any problems. If your baby is not coping well, this can be heard when their heartbeat pattern is listened to.

One of the best ways of finding out if your baby is having problems is to listen to their heartbeat regularly throughout your labour. This is known as fetal heart monitoring.

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Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-19 years called Chat Health. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a public health nurse (health visitor/school nurse) within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the line reopens.

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Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs the Healthy Together Helpline for parents and carers in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The Helpline’s qualified health and administrative professionals offer easy to access, safe and free advice, support and signposting. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays. Calls are charged at the same rate as calling a standard landline number.

Should you require urgent health advice in the meantime, please contact your GP, visit an NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies, dial 999 or visit A&E.

Page last reviewed: 21-05-2024

Next review due: 21-05-2027