Problem: A patient in labor asks the nurse how the fetal monitors work. What is the nurse's best response? You should take a nap and not worry about those things; they are too hard to understand. The monitors tell us only how close your baby is to delivery. The electronic fetal monitors are showing only your contractions and how much fluid you have left. The monitors help to let us know if your baby is receiving enough oxygen through the umbilical cord and is doing okay.