Why did my baby have a clip attached to their head?

Sometimes it is difficult to hear the baby’s heart rate abdominally (through the tummy). This may be due to the position the baby is lying in, or where women have excess tummy fat. Where the midwives and doctors need to be able to monitor the baby’s heart rate closely and this is difficult abdominally, a special clip (called a fetal scalp electrode – FSE) can be carefully applied to the baby’s head. This is then connected to the CTG and allows the baby’s heart rate to be monitored accurately and continuously, regardless of whichever position the mother or baby is lying in.