Antepartum Monitors Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Antepartum Monitors Market Is Segmented By Product Type(Non-Invasive, Invasive, Other), By Component( Software, Hardware, Services), By End-User(Hospitals, Clinics, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2023-2030.

Antepartum Monitors Market Overview

Antepartum Monitors Market size is estimated to reach at a high CAGR 5.7% during the forecast period 2023-2030. Antepartum testing involves using electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) or ultrasound (US) to assess foetal well-being during the antepartum period, which lasts from conception to labour.

Antepartum Monitors Market Scope

Antepartum Monitors Market Dynamics              

The factors driving the market growth arethe development of non-invasive, portable, and advanced foetal monitors.

The increasing development of non-invasive, portable, and advanced foetal monitors is expected to drive the antepartum monitors market

Monitoring the foetal heart rate during pregnancy is critical for determining the proper supply of oxygen, nutrients, and growth of the foetus. Monitoring the foetus during pregnancy may aid in the detection of pathological conditions such as foetal hypoxia, allowing for prompt medical intervention before irreversible changes occur. The foetal heart rate of the foetus is abnormal, indicating insufficient oxygen supplied or other problems with the foetus. FHR can be monitored during pregnancy or labor using invasive and non-invasive foetal methods, allowing the heart functionality of the foetus to be predicted to reflect the fetus's growth and well-being. In contrast to invasive FECG, non-invasive foetal electrocardiogram (NIFECG) monitoring of foetal heart rate or foetal electrocardiography through abdominal FECG electrodes has widespread clinical acceptance because it is suitable for long-term recordings without surgery. In contrast to invasive FECG, non-invasive foetal electrocardiogram (NIFECG) monitoring of foetal heart rate or foetal electrocardiography through abdominal FECG electrodes has widespread clinical acceptance because it is suitable for long-term recordings without surgery.

On June 12th, 2020, Philips launched a prenatal monitoring system. The company also has plans to launch Lumify, a handheld ultrasound device, in Japan.

The risks associated with antepartum monitoring is expected to hamper the market growth

Fetal monitoring does not usually harm babies, but it does have some risks. Before using foetal monitoring, a doctor should carefully consider these risks. The doctor must insert a gloved hand into the cervix to perform internal fetal monitoring to attach the transducer. This increases the infection risk because bacteria from the glove, tissues, or patient's blood can spread to the baby.

Internal foetal monitoring is not recommended for women who have infections that could spread to the baby because of this risk. During labor, foetal monitoring provides doctors with more information about the baby's heart rate. This information can be useful, but it can also cause unnecessary concern. In some cases, it may be difficult to tell whether the baby is truly in distress or if the monitor is simply not reading their heart rate accurately. When foetal monitoring indicates that the baby is in distress, doctors tend to be cautious. They are more likely to perform an assisted delivery to avoid complications in the baby.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis On Antepartum Monitors Market

COVID-19 compelled regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, to relax their regulatory standards for fetal monitors to support expectant mothers' uninterrupted care regime. Rules have been relaxed, allowing several key players to smoothly launch fetal monitors with tele-ultrasound monitoring, noninvasive features, and portable technologies. For example, amid the pandemic, the FDA issued updated April 2020 FDA guidance, under which Philips successfully launched its fetal monitor, Avalon CL, in the United States on June 12, 2020. The FDA's noninvasive fetal and maternal monitoring device enforcement policy aims to increase access to devices to reduce the need for in-clinic visits and the burden on doctors' offices and hospitals during the pandemic.

Antepartum Monitors Market Segment Analysis

The non-invasive method is expected to dominate the market growth

Noninvasive methods of diagnosing and monitoring the fetus are widely accepted, particularly in high-risk pregnancies. The increasing approvals of various noninvasive monitoring devices and the introduction of new advanced technologies are driving the growth of this segment. Noninvasive prenatal testing is increasingly being used in clinical settings to screen high-risk patients for fetal aneuploidy.

Over the decades, there have been significant advances in prenatal screening for chromosomal conditions, most recently in noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). These tests assess the risk of fetal aneuploidy by analyzing circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA). According to preliminary research, NIPT has the potential to provide improved sensitivity and specificity for prenatal screening, as well as lower false-positive rates when compared to maternal serum analyte screening. Furthermore, NIPT has the potential for earlier results in the first trimester without the need for multiple bloods draws and a reduction in invasive diagnostic procedures, which are associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss.

For example, Philips Fetal and Maternal Pod and Patch launched on June 12th, 2020, allows continuous, non-invasive monitoring of maternal heart rate, fetal heart rate, and uterine activity.  It is a single-use, 48-hour disposable electrode patch placed on the mother's abdomen, unlike traditional elastic belts and sensors, which require frequent repositioning. The patch is intended to be placed on the patient only once by a clinician.

Antepartum Monitors Market​​​​​​​ Geographical Analysis

North America region accounted for the largest market share in the global antepartum monitors market

An increase in the number of pregnancy cases and the presence of major key players is expected to drive the market in this region.

In 2020, the fertility rate in the United States was around 55.8 births per 1,000 women and 58.3 births in 2019.On October 5th, 2018,the f6 express/f9 express fetal & maternal monitor received U.S FDA market approval. On April 13, 2020, Sonicaid Team3 Antepartum and Sonicaid Team3 Intrapartum fetal monitors received U.S FDA approval which is intended for use by trained healthcare professionals in the non-invasive and invasive monitoring of physiological parameters in pregnant women and fetuses during the antepartum and intrapartum periods of pregnancy.

Antepartum Monitors Market​​​​​​​ Competitive Landscape

The global antepartum monitors market is moderately competitive with technological investments, company acquisitions, and FDA approvals. Some of the major key players in the global antepartum monitors market are GE Healthcare, Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Getinge Group, Neoventa Medical AB, Promed Group Co., Ltd., and OSI Systems, Inc.

GE Healthcare

Overview:GE Healthcare is a leading innovator in medical technology and diagnostics, enabling clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions through intelligent devices, data, analytics, applications, and services powered by its Edison intelligence platform. The company was founded on 28 September 1994.

Product Portfolio:The company offers fetal monitors line, including Novii Wireless Patch System, Corometrics 250cx Series Maternal/Fetal Monitor, and Corometrics 170.

Key Development: On March 16, 2017, GE Healthcare acquired Monica Healthcare, a fetal monitoring company based in the United Kingdom. Monica's Novii Patch System, a wireless, single-use maternal and fetal heart rate monitor, has been distributed by GE.