Monitoring of intrapartum phenomena.

We have discussed in the first part of this paper the place of labor monitoring in the delivery of health care to the pregnant woman and the fetus. We have shown that monitoring is only practical and realistic in centers which are equipped to welcome high risk patients. Adequate personnel and facilities should be available on a 24 hr basis. The collaboration of the pediatrician and of the neonatal nursery is essential to the success of the operation. A great part of successful attempts to decrease perinatal mortality and morbidity has to do with prevention. Our population has to be educated during childhood and adolescence about reproduction. The second part of the paper describes the measurement of intrauterine pressure and fetal heart rate and the value of data interpretation. The advantages and limitations of the techniques are outlined. The problems which the doctors and engineers encounter during these procedures are briefly reviewed. It is concluded that monitoring of labor is still in an early developmental stage. Man power and technical innovations22 are necessary to assure a reduction of 15 per cent of the total perinatal mortality with the use of this technique.