Fetal heart monitoring, used routinely in most developed and many developing countries during labour to detect hypoxia, a risk factor for neonatal seizures with resulting encephalopathy and brain injury. Abnormalities on the fetal tocogram may lead to the necessity to expedite delivery, for example by CAESAREAN SECTION. Misinterpretation or excessive caution can lead to a high rate of unnecessary interventions so the NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE (NICE) has suggested that, in low risk deliveries, cardiotocography should be replaced by the midwife listening at intervals to the heart rate.