Kristie McNealy, MD

After the week I spent hospitalized on bedrest during my second pregnancy, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the hard, uncomfortable fetal heart monitor and tocometer I wore most of the time. I don’t really mind, seeing as the fetal monitor warned doctors that my daughter was becoming stressed by my constant contractions in time for them to deliver her safely. But, if I would have been given the option of a more comfortable version, I would have jumped at it.

Now, Phillips is introducing the Avalon FM40 and FM50 fetal-maternal monitoring systems. They are capable of measuring 3 fetal heart rates, uterine contractions and fetal movement, and the transducers are made of a softer material, increasing the comfort of women wearing the monitor for a long period of time on the antepartum unit.

The monitors also come with an optional touch screen control, and sport large screens, that can easily be viewed at a distance by both family and hospital staff.