Intermittent Auscultation

IA allows the woman to move freely and permits midwives to adapt timing and frequency to the clinical picture. NICE guidance specifies that IA should be performed after a uterine contraction for one full minute at stage-specific intervals. IA is a complex clinical skill despite appearing technically simple. IA can be performed with a Pinard fetoscope or a handheld Doppler ultrasound device. IA lacks a permanent objective record comparable to a CTG printout. Intermittent auscultation involves listening to the fetal heart rate at defined intervals during active labour to assess fetal wellbeing. Intermittent auscultation is recommended for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies in the UK and internationally.