Home uterine activity monitoring, or HUAM, is a test that allows your doctor to monitor the frequency and strength of your uterine contractions remotely while you remain in the comfort of your own living room.
This technology can greatly reduce the stress and anxiety that is associated with going into the hospital or clinic for traditional fetal monitoring. The specialist interpreting the results through a modem can then determine whether additional actions need to be taken.
Home uterine activity monitoring uses an external fetal monitor that attaches to the mother with two straps. One uses a tocodynamometerAn electronic device use to monitor and record the contractions in labor. It consists of a pressure measuring transducer that is placed on the lower abdomen and held by a belt. It is attached to a machine that records the duration of the contractions and the time between them onto graph paper. The tocodynamometer forms one part of the process of electronic fetal monitor.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. to measure the strength and frequency of the contractions. The external fetal monitor has the capability of being attached to a telephone modem. At the other end of the telephone line, specially trained nurses, or your healthcare provider can interpret the data, including the frequency and strength of your contractions.
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Your doctor may recommend home uterine activity monitoring if you previously had a premature labor. Premature rupture of membranes, or PROM, may also accelerate the onset of labor and indicate the need for home uterine monitoring. If you are experiencing an infection, have pregnancy induced hypertension (preeclampsia), or are carrying multiple fetuses, you may also be a candidate for HUAM.
There are few, if any, risks associated with this test.
Home uterine activity monitoring is usually administered if your doctor feels that there is a risk you may enter labor prior to the pregnancy reaching full term.
The technician interpreting the results will analyze the number of contractions that occur within one hour. If the specialist or your doctor feel that too many contractions have occurred, the contractions during a second hour will analyzed. Your doctor will then decide what course of action needs to be taken next.
Depending on the stage of your pregnancy, your doctor may decide to arrest the labor to prevent the premature delivery of the baby.
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