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.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.