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Enabling mobility in labour for women with complex pregnancies

A feasibility study of the beltless non-invasive fetal ECG technology

Associate Professor Deborah Fox her team, including Dr Vanessa Scarf, Dr Rebecca Coddington, Associate Professor Andrew Bisits, Anne Lainchbury and PhD Candidate Rachael Woodworth completed a feasibility study of the use of Non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (NIFECG) at the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, NSW in 2020. 

The $95,000 Category 3 grant was awarded in 2019. 

Publications

  • Fox, D., Coddington, R., & Scarf, V. (2022). Wanting to be 'with woman', not with machine: Midwives' experiences of caring for women being continuously monitored in labour. Women and Birth, 35(4), 387-393. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2021.09.002

  • Fox, D., Coddington, R., Scarf, V., Bisits, A., Lainchbury, A., Woodworth, R., . . . Sandall, J. (2021). Harnessing technology to enable all women mobility in labour and birth: feasibility of implementing beltless non-invasive fetal ECG applying the NASSS framework. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1), 1-14. doi:10.1186/s40814-021-00953-6

  • Coddington, R., Scarf, V., & Fox, D. (2023). Australian women’s experiences of wearing a non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (NIFECG) device during labour. Women and Birth : Journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 36(6), 546–551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2023.03.005

Presentations

  • Fox, D., Coddington, R., Scarf, V., Bisits, A., Lainchbury, A., Woodworth, R., . . . Sandall, J. (2021). Beltless non-invasive fetal ECG (NIFECG) for the intrapartum monitoring of women with complex pregnancies: an analysis of facilitators and barriers using the NASSS framework. FIGO International Congress. Online poster.

  • Fox, D., Coddington, R., Scarf, V., Bisits, A., Lainchbury, A., Woodworth, R., . . . Sandall, J. (2021). Beltless non-invasive fetal ECG (NIFECG) for the intrapartum monitoring of women with complex pregnancies: an analysis of facilitators and barriers to implementation using the NASSS. European Intrapartum Care Conference. Online poster.

  • Fox, D. (2022). Beyond the CTG. Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre: Women's Health Forum. Cairns. Online oral presentation

  • Fox, D. (2021). Non-invasive fetal ECG monitoring: innovations in the care of women with complex pregnancies. Australian Institute of Digital Health: Apps and innovations transforming maternal health and wellness program. Online oral presentation.