Obstetrics and technology

Most of the technological developments in obstetrics have been focussed on improving access to and assessment of the fetus. The great majority of these developments have included ultrasound in one form or another. The five technologies in obstetrics upon which the author concentrates are: (1) real-time ultrasound imaging of the fetus; (2) antenatal fetal heart rate monitoring using Doppler ultrasound; (3) umbilical artery blood flow recording with Doppler ultrasound; (4) intrapartum fetal heart rate recording with either Doppler ultrasound or a scalp electrode; (5) intrapartum fetal electrocardiogram recording