Fetal monitoring detects signs of some problems as early as possible in pregnancy. Although this testing can provide valuable information, normal results do not guarantee a healthy baby. All pregnancies carry some degree of risk, and monitoring does not remove that risk. But it does help your health care provider to take better care of you and your baby during your pregnancy. Some of the tests used for monitoring check the fetus's movement, heartbeat, and rate of growth.
Some tests show an image of the fetus in the uterus .
Others create a sound or recording of the fetus's heartbeat. Your health care provider may combine these tests to capture both sounds and images. For instance, you can monitor your fetus's movements yourself by keeping a kick count in late pregnancy. To record a kick count, you simply note the number of times the fetus moves over a certain period. Your health care provider can tell you when and how to perform this test and what the results might mean.