New technology allows mothers to keep an eye on their baby before birth

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — More Jacksonville news: Man connected to brutal beating of Jacksonville mother arrested, police say

Local moms are getting the chance to deliver their babies without the haste of wearing a fetal monitor strapped to their baby-bump while in labor. Memorial Hospital is now using a different type of technology to keep an eye on babies before they enter the world.

It’s called the Novii Wireless Patch. Experts say it works just like the Bluetooth on your phone, sending fetal readings such as the baby's heart rate and contraction information. It’s predecessor required a belly-band and cables, which could easily move out of place.

“The benefits are she has more mobility, she can get up and move and not worry about what position the baby is in,” OBGYN Dr. Hae Soo Lim said.

Memorial Hospital officials say they’ve been using the monitors for about two weeks, and helped monitor about 15 new babies so far.

Cox Media Group