Heart Monitor for Waiouru babies

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 27, 2 December 1986, Page 5

Heart Monitor for Waiouru babies

A foetal heart monitor worth $1265 was presented to the Waiouru Military Camp maternity annexe as a part of the warrant officer's and non-commissioned rank's annual charity project. The mqney was raised through a variety of activities including raffles, collections and musical items performed by the group. The monitor will be an invaluable asset to the ward as it is used to monitor the heart beat of the foetus in the womb from 12-weeks until birth. Waiouru's maternity annexe cares for about 50 mothers and newborn babies a year — on average about one baby a week. The monitor will also be in use during the hospital's ante-natal classes which has 13—19 patients a week. The monitor runs on batteries but has a connection that enables it to be electrically recharged if needed. The hospital's existing heart monitor was donated to the camp in 1982 and has been in extensive use over the last four years. Principal Nurse Freda Tohill accepted the monitor and stated that all such donations are valuable when the welfare of the people of Waiouru is taken into consideration. Mrs Tohill demonstrated how the monitor operated by using a volunteer from the army and a child. to record the variations of heart rates. Approval had to be obtained from the Wanganui Hospital Board before the hospital was allowed to accept the equipment.