Interpretation of Intrapartum CTG
A systematic approach to fetal monitoring: classification, escalation and the decisions examiners expect you to justify, taught by a consultant obstetrician who has sat on the Part 3 examining panel.
Learning outcomes
Classify intrapartum CTG traces using a standardised, reproducible framework
Recognise and escalate suspicious and pathological trace features appropriately
Justify a management plan clearly and concisely under exam-style time pressure
Apply fetal blood sampling and second-line surveillance criteria correctly
Communicate CTG findings within a structured multidisciplinary handover
Avoid the trace-interpretation errors examiners most frequently penalise
What's covered
This course builds the interpretation skill from first principles rather than handing you a checklist to memorise. You will start with the physiology behind the trace — why baseline rate, variability and reactivity behave the way they do — before moving into the four-category classification framework used throughout the modern curriculum.
From there, the course works through escalation: when a suspicious trace becomes pathological, what second-line tests actually add, and how to communicate a management decision the way an examiner expects to hear it. The final module is built entirely around exam technique, including a timed mock station so you can rehearse the format under realistic time pressure before you sit it for real.
Who this course is for
Trainees preparing for Part 2 written questions on intrapartum care, and Part 3 candidates who need to defend a CTG-based management decision fluently in a simulated station.
Course content
18 lessons across five modules. Your last completed lesson is Baseline rate and variability.
1 Foundations of Fetal Monitoring 4 lessons · 46 min ⌄
- ✓ Physiology of the fetal heart rate 12 min
- ✓ Equipment, placement and trace quality 10 min
- ✓ Baseline rate and variability 12 min
- ✓ Accelerations and the reassuring trace 12 min
2 Classifying the Trace 4 lessons · 44 min ⌄
- ✓ Early vs late vs variable decelerations 12 min
- ✓ Applying the four-category classification 11 min
- ✓ Common classification pitfalls 10 min
- ✓ Worked trace classification workshop 11 min
3 Escalation and Second-Line Tests 4 lessons · 46 min ⌄
4 Operative and High-Risk Scenarios 3 lessons · 42 min ⌄
5 Exam Technique and Mock Stations 3 lessons · 42 min · Unlocks after Module 4 ⌄
- 🔒 Structured viva approach to trace questions 14 min
- 🔒 Common examiner traps and how to avoid them 14 min
- 🔒 Timed mock station: CTG interpretation 14 min
Included resources
What candidates say about this course
The escalation module finally made the difference between knowing a trace was abnormal and being able to say, out loud, exactly what I would do next.
I watched the classification workshop three times before it clicked. Worth it on its own — the mock station at the end tied everything together.
Related question bank topics
Turn what you've just watched into practice: these topics draw directly from this course.
Frequently asked questions
Is this course included in my subscription?
Yes. Interpretation of Intrapartum CTG is a core course and is included with every subscription duration — 1, 3, 6 and 12 months all unlock it in exactly the same way.
Do I need to complete the modules in order?
Modules 1 to 4 can be watched in any order. Module 5, the exam technique and mock station module, unlocks once Module 4 is complete, so that the timed station reflects everything covered beforehand.
Can I download the resources for offline use?
Yes. All four downloadable resources are available from the course player for the duration of your active subscription.
Is this course useful for Part 3 as well as Part 2?
Yes. While the core content maps most closely to Part 2 written questions, the final module is built specifically around defending a CTG-based management decision in a Part 3 station format.