How do you count HR in the DR

Specialties NICU

Published

Just wondering how you get your heart rate in the Delivery Room. Use Stethescope, palpate cord, etc... Do you count for 6 seconds then times by 10.

I attend lots of deliveries and I do enjoy it, but I tend to get flustered when counting heart rate.

What has worked well for you.

Thanks!!

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Palpate cord, 6 seconds times 10. But, I also tap out the heart beat with my other hand on the bed so the other team members have an idea. Some nurses tap it with their feet too. Then even if you don't calculate quickly they still know what's going on. Fun tip for you: the beat to the song "staying alive" is 100 beats a minute.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Have also heard that Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" is 100bpm. I think in the context of a delivery room, we'd best be going with "Stayin' Alive."

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).
Have also heard that Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" is 100bpm. I think in the context of a delivery room, we'd best be going with "Stayin' Alive."

ROTFLMAO!!

:lol2:

Steve

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Have also heard that Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" is 100bpm. I think in the context of a delivery room, we'd best be going with "Stayin' Alive."

That is just too funny for words.

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Specializes in NICU.
Have also heard that Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" is 100bpm. I think in the context of a delivery room, we'd best be going with "Stayin' Alive."

Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just about everyone on my unit rolling on the floor at this!!!

Nothing like a good laugh in the middle of a horrid night shift...

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Specializes in NICU.

Not entirely related, but the beat to "Duke of Earl" perfectly corresponds with the frequency that the dashed lines on a highway go past the car when driving exactly 55mph.

On the actual topic, we whisk high-risk/sick kids directly into our transitional nursery and put them on monitors right away, so I've never had to count a heartbeat.

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Specializes in NICU.
On the actual topic, we whisk high-risk/sick kids directly into our transitional nursery and put them on monitors right away, so I've never had to count a heartbeat.

We stabilize the kids in the DR first - basic NRP stuff. We then transport them to our unit (one floor up) if needed. I always palpate the base of the cord to find the heartbeat for 6 seconds, then multiply by 10. I remember it taking a little while to get the hang of finding the heartbeat that way, but it didn't take long.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Elizabells, you crack me up with the Duke of Earl thing. That is so something a weirdo like me would find interesting. (No, I am not insinuating that you're a weirdo too, though if you claim to be, you'd be in great company!:))

Back on topic.....

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Specializes in NICU and neonatal transport.

I tend to nod along with it or tap, and then everyone has an idea. Went to a horrid delivery not so long ago and the registrar (senior doctor) was listening with stethascope and refused to give me any indication of HR. The kid is a very small ??24wks, looking in a bad way, unable to tube it so bagging for dear life and I've got my hands getting nearer and nearer to just going ahead and commenced CM cos no-one was telling me any different and the poor thing looked awful. Plus mum is sat up on her bed right next to the baby and all the family is in the room staring, so I couldn't be too obvious with telling him off! Baby died in the end sadly.

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