Improving fECG signal acquisition in the evaluation of fetal well-being

The ability to monitor fetal heart rate is vital during late pregnancy and labor in order to evaluate fetal well-being. Current monitoring practice is essentially based on external cardiotocography and, less frequently, during labor, invasive fetal scalp electrocardiography. Many current and envisaged applications could benefi t from simpler devices using a 3-lead ECG confi guration. We are designing a maternity support belt with an embedded wireless 3-lead ECG sensor, and have investigated the infl uence of the ground electrode position on signal quality. Data from over 100 pregnant women was collected with the ground electrode placed in 3 locations in order to determine optimum electrode placement and belt form factor.

Braga Hospital (Portugal) for approving the study and providing facilities for data collection. Project “Do-IT”, co-fi nanced by the European Community Fund FEDER through COMPETE – Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade (POFC). Foundation for Science & Technology, Lisbon, through project PEst-C/CTM/LA0025/2011.