Final answer:
Fetal heart rate monitoring can typically start around the fifth week of development when a regular heartbeat can be detected. Techniques like MCG are sensitive to the heart's electrical activity, aiding in early diagnosis of conditions. Close monitoring is essential, especially in cases of IUGR and to assess fetal viability after 26 weeks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fetal heart rate monitoring is possible during the stages of pregnancy when the heart and blood vessels have developed enough to function. Fetal heart rate monitoring becomes feasible when a regular heartbeat can be detected in fetal development. This significant milestone in a fetus's growth usually occurs around the fifth week of development, as early as 22 days after conception. The heart is one of the earliest organs to develop, and its monitoring is crucial for assessing fetal health. Techniques like magnetocardiography (MCG) and echocardiography can be used, with MCG often being more sensitive. MCG is particularly adept at capturing the heart's electrical activity, crucial for diagnosing cardiac conditions early on.
During the pregnancy, the mother's placenta plays a vital role in the fetus's development, providing oxygen and nutrients. In cases where there are complications, such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), proper fetal monitoring is even more essential. Furthermore, fetal viability and the fetus's ability to survive outside the uterus typically occur after 26 weeks of gestation when most of the fetus's systems, including the respiratory and nervous systems, have developed sufficiently.