Tests, checks and scans during labour and birth

During labour and birth, your maternity care provider may offer different checks or monitoring to guide care and to support your safety and your baby’s wellbeing.

Which checks are offered and when they are offered will depend on what is happening for you and your baby. You should always be asked before these checks are carried out. You can always say no or ask if there is an alternative. Your maternity care provider should explain what is happening and support you to feel informed, safe and in control of your care.

Why checks are offered

Checks and monitoring can help to:

• assess the wellbeing of you and your baby during labour
• see how labour is progressing, (how deep your baby is in the pelvis, how many cm’s dilated you are etc)
• guide decisions as labour progresses
• offer reassurance that things are going well
• help your maternity care provider to respond early if things are not progressing as expected.

Some checks are routine, and others may be suggested if more information is needed.

Supported decision-making in labour

Your maternity care provider is there to help you to understand the care that is being offered and ensure that it aligns with your goals and preferences. 

Remember, you can always:

• Say yes, no, or ask to wait.
• Ask your maternity care provider:
  • why a check is being suggested and what information they hope to gain
  • what the expected outcome of the check is
  • what the check involves
  • if other options could provide the same information
  • what time frame the test needs to be done in.

Types of checks you may be offered

The checks offered will depend on your individual needs and preferences. These may include:

• listening to your baby’s heartbeat (at intervals or continuously)
• observing and feeling your contractions, such as how often they happen and how strong they are – by resting their hand lightly on your abdomen
• checking your blood pressure, temperature, and pulse
• wearing a pad if your waters have broken so your maternity care provider can check them regularly (including the colour and odour)
• asking how you are feeling physically and emotionally
• vaginal examinations to learn how the cervix is changing
• blood or urine tests, if needed.

Not everyone will have the same checks. Your care may change as your labour progresses or as a result of these checks.

Learn more

Pregnancy – labour | Better Health Channel

Pregnancy: labour & birth | Raising Children Network

Interventions during labour | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

Vaginal examinations

Vaginal examinations can give your maternity care provider helpful information about how your labour is progressing, but they are only one way of assessing progress. 

A vaginal examination involves your maternity care provider gently placing two fingers into the vagina to feel the cervix and sometimes the baby’s head. Some women find this uncomfortable or awkward while others feel reassured or interested to know what is happening.

You can ask for pain relief, such as gas and air, before or during an examination. You can also ask to pause or stop at any time, or to choose not to have an examination. 

Your care team should always explain the reason for the examination, ask for your consent and maintain your privacy and dignity. You should feel safe, heard and in control of what happens to your body.

Learn more

Vaginal examinations in pregnancy and birth | Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

Pregnancy – labour | Better Health Channel

Monitoring you and your baby during labour

There are different ways you and your baby may be monitored during your labour. It will depend on the risk factors that may be present as to which monitoring is recommended. This can include monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and contractions and monitoring the babies heart rate by listening with a doppler or continuous external or internal monitoring.

Monitoring you and your baby during labour is helpful to:

• reassure you about how your baby is coping during labour
• assess how your labour is progressing
• explain why you might be feeling how you are
• support decision making as things change during labour
• guide choices about pain relief, movement or position.

For some women, checks and monitoring your baby can feel:

• uncomfortable, intrusive or restrictive
• overwhelming, especially when you are tired or in pain
• stressful, especially if things are not clearly explained
• reassuring or encouraging.

These feelings are valid and completely understandable. Labour can feel intense, and your experience matters.

Monitoring your baby and labour checks can be flexible and may change as situations change or if your maternity care provider isn’t able to get the information they need to be reassured of your wellbeing and the wellbeing of the baby. 

Learn more

Fetal heart rate monitoring | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring

Fetal monitoring in labour - Guidance | NICE

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