what is toco

TOCO is an acronym for tocodynamometer, which is a pressure-sensitive contraction transducer that records the pressure force produced by the contorting abdomen during uterine contractions. It is a round monitor that is placed on the abdomen of a patient during labor and resembles a belt. The TOCO number is a measurement of pressure and is displayed in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) . The number increases as contractions get longer, harder, and stronger during labor. The TOCO number is measured using a unit called mmHg, and it is usually displayed on the monitoring screens to the right of the fetal heart rate. Braxton Hicks contractions have a lower TOCO number, while true labor contractions have a higher TOCO number. A TOCO monitor is used to measure the intensity, frequency, and duration of contractions during labor, and when combined with a fetal heart monitor, it helps assess fetal well-being during labor.