The invention relates to an apparatus (100) and a corresponding method for generating fetal heart rate data. The apparatus (100) comprises a feature extractor (101) configured for extracting at least one feature from acquired ultrasound signal segments (US). The apparatus (100) also comprises a classifier (102) configured for classifying ultrasound data (UD) into a valid signal group and an invalid signal group on the basis of the extracted at least one feature and a plurality of predefined rules, wherein the ultrasound data (UD) are the acquired ultrasound signal segments (US) or autocorrelations of the acquired ultrasound signal segments (US). The apparatus (100) also comprises a processor (103) configured for generating the fetal heart rate data on the basis of the valid signal group.
