Cardiotocography (CTG) is a technique of functional assessment of the condition of the fetus during pregnancy and labour based on the recording of fetal heart rate and its change depending on uterine contractions, external stimuli or the activity of the fetus itself. 

CTG is currently an integral part of a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the fetus, along with ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound. Such monitoring of the fetal cardiac activity significantly expands diagnostic capabilities both during pregnancy and labour, and allows to effectively solve the issue of rational tactics of their management.

The fetal cardiac activity is recorded with a special ultrasonic transducer with a frequency of 1.5-2.0 MHz, the operation of which is based on the Doppler effect. This transducer is attached to the pregnant woman’s abdomen in the area where the fetal heart sounds are best heard.

The transducer generates an ultrasound signal that is reflected from the heart of the fetus and is received again by the transducer.

The electronic system, a cardiac monitor, converts the registered changes in the intervals between individual fetal heartbeats into the instantaneous heart rate, calculating the number of beats per minute at the time of examination.

Changes in heart rate are displayed by the device in the form of light, sound and digital signals and a graphic image in the form of a graph on a paper tape. Modern CTG devices have a special remote control with which a pregnant woman can record the movements of the fetus by herself.

Uterine contractions and fetal movements are displayed by the device in the lower part of the paper tape in the form of a curved line during the examination.  

CTG has no contraindications and is totally safe.

Based on this, the use of CTG during pregnancy allows monitoring the condition of the fetus for a continuous time, and if necessary, this can be done daily, which significantly increases the diagnostic value of this technique, especially in combination with data from other diagnostic methods.

CTG results are assessed strictly individually and only in combination with clinical data, as well as the results of other tests conducted during pregnancy.