In order to assess the fetal heart rate monitoring and condition of the baby in the uterus of a pregnant lady, BMC run Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai has introduced a light weight wireless system christened 'Monica' for the first time in India.

Fetal heart rate monitoring is a process of checking the condition of baby during labor and delivery by monitoring his or her heart rate with a special equipment.

Monitoring and Care (Monica), as it stands for, is administered and managed through a central monitoring station. The gadget used in the system comes with the size of a mobile phone and is a welcome change for pregnant ladies who used to bear gadgets on their body weighing 5 to 6 kilograms with the conventional monitoring systems. The mobile phone sized gadget can be worn around the neck comfortably to give accurate assessment of the baby's condition in the uterus. This system gives separate readings of the heart beat rate for both the mother and child.

Monica is a single set up device that requires no adjustment or repositioning no matter what the fetus or patient does. It uses ECG electrodes placed on the abdomen to monitor the fetal ECG, maternal ECG and uterine EMG. It monitors the maternal and fetal ECG shape to provide the fetal heart rate, even when fetal and maternal heart rates are similar. It improves uterine contraction detection without the risk associated with intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC). An IUPC is used during labor induction to help measure the exact force of contractions during labor by taking into account contraction frequency, duration and strength.

Detection of abdominal fetal ECG and uterine EMG signals are minimally affected by BMI and therefore a boon for obese pregnant women. Electrocardiography (ECG) is the process of recording the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time using electrodes placed on a patient's body. An electromyogram (EMG) measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction.

Fetal heart rate monitoring may help detect changes in the normal heart rate pattern during labor. If certain changes are detected, steps can be taken to help treat the underlying problem. This also can help prevent treatments that are not needed. A normal fetal heart rate can reassure both the pregnant lady and health care provider that it is safe to continue labor if no other problems are present.