Fetal Monitoring Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Increasing burden of preterm births: There has been a constant rise in preterm births and complications, which is a major driving factor for this landscape. An UNICEF article published in May 2023 revealed that around 13.4 million babies were born pre-term in a year, wherein nearly 1 million died from preterm complications. It also stated that it is equal to 1 in 10 babies born early, i.e., before 37 weeks of pregnancy across all nations, which implies the extreme necessity of early detection.
• Continued advances in monitoring devices: The adoption of wireless, non-invasive, and AI-enabled monitoring systems is making these systems highly adoptable across healthcare settings. In January 2022, Philips finalized the acquisition of Vesper Medical to enhance its Image Guided Therapy portfolio. Besides, the upfront purchase price was EUR 227 million, which is expected to expand Philips’ capabilities in vascular treatment and advanced cardiac monitoring, hence denoting a positive market outlook.
• Government focus on maternal & neonatal health: Global health agencies and national governments are readily making investments in maternal health programs and promoting early detection of fetal concerns. In this context study by PMNCH in April 2025 revealed that in 2023, 4.8 million children under five died, nearly half in their first month, and 260,000 women died from pregnancy complications on a yearly basis. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the highest burden, with 70% of maternal deaths and 56% of under-five deaths. Therefore, it notes that governments are urged to invest 1% to 2% of GDP in healthcare to improve access.

Impact of Incentivized Self-Monitoring on Blood Pressure Reporting During and After Pregnancy 2024

Source: AHA 2024

Revenue Opportunities for Manufacturers

Source: Company Official Press Releases

Challenges

• Lack of proper healthcare access: The fetal monitoring market faces significant disparities in terms of inadequate healthcare access and funding shortages. This has further led to an increased maternal and child mortality, wherein there are critical programs at risk of closure. On the other hand, debt burdens force governments to divert funds from health to debt servicing, thereby leaving families to pay exacerbated costs that ultimately limit access.
• Impact of climate change: Despite the presence of a reliable consumer base, the fetal monitoring sector is facing risks in terms of climate change and conflicts, which disrupt the healthcare system's infrastructure. Besides this results in displacing health workers, creating barriers to maternal and newborn care. On the other hand, in crisis zones such as Cox’s Bazar and Gaza, providing consistent maternal health services becomes challenging, which increases vulnerability among mothers and children, necessitating urgent, adaptable healthcare solutions.