What is the primary purpose of using an electronic fetal monitor?

The primary purpose of using an electronic fetal monitor is to continuously track the fetus's heart rate and uterine contractions in real-time. This monitoring allows healthcare providers to assess the well-being of the fetus during labor and delivery. It helps in identifying fetal distress or abnormal patterns, enabling timely interventions if needed. The ability to visualize these vital signs continuously provides important information about how the fetus is responding to contractions and the overall progress of labor.

Other options do not serve the main purpose of electronic fetal monitoring. Recording maternal blood pressure is essential for monitoring the mother’s health but is not related to fetal heart monitoring. Assessing maternal hormone levels involves different diagnostic tools and is not a function of fetal monitors. Providing ultrasound images of the fetus pertains to imaging technology rather than electronic fetal monitoring, which focuses specifically on heart rate and contraction patterns.