FIGO consensus guidelines on intrapartum fetal monitoring: Intermittent auscultation.

Intermittent auscultation is the technique used to listen to the fetal heart rate (FHR) for short periods of time without a display of the resulting pattern. Whether it is used for intrapartum fetal monitoring in low-risk women or for all cases in settings where there are no available alternatives, all healthcare professionals attending labor and delivery need to be skilled at performing intermittent auscultation, interpreting its findings, and taking appropriate action. The main aim of this chapter is to describe the tools and techniques for intermittent auscultation in labor.