Which assessment tool is commonly used to evaluate fetal heart rate patterns?

The assessment tool commonly used to evaluate fetal heart rate patterns is electronic fetal monitoring. This method provides continuous, real-time information about the fetal heart rate and can help detect signs of fetal distress, abnormal patterns, or other complications during labor.

Electronic fetal monitoring delivers critical data through two main types: external monitoring, using a transducer placed on the mother's abdomen, and internal monitoring, which involves placing a fetal scalp electrode directly onto the fetus's scalp for more accurate measurements. This approach allows healthcare providers to observe how the fetal heart rate responds to uterine contractions and determine the well-being of the fetus throughout labor.

While options like the fetal Doppler and ultrasound can provide useful information about fetal well-being and assess heart rate, they do not continuously monitor the heart rate patterns during labor like electronic fetal monitoring does. A heart rate monitor is typically used in adult patients and not specifically designed for fetal heart rate assessment.