Context

Ever since the early 1960s foetal cardiotocography (CTG) has been widely utilised across the globe as a means of intrapartum foetal well-being surveillance. A Cochrane Collaboration review has shown that utilisation of intrapartum CTG reduces incidence of newborn seizures. This in itself is an important outcome as most seizures were hypoxic ischemic and as such had a guarded long-term outcome.1 CTG has not shown clear benefit in reducing cerebral palsy, perinatal death or other labour complications.2 Moreover it has been speculated that CTG use has increased instrumental delivery and Caesarean section rates, due to the high false positive rate and poor positive predictive value of CTG for intrapartum hypoxia.3 In an attempt to reduce unnecessary over-intervention, the concept …