NST is a common test for pregnant women . Your doctor may use it to check the health of your baby after weeks 26 to 28 of pregnancy. Certain results may mean your doctor needs to monitor your baby, do more tests, or schedule delivery.
What are they looking for during NST?
A non-stress test (NST) looks at your baby’s heart rate over time (usually 20 to 30 minutes, but sometimes up to an hour). The monitor has two sensors that are placed on your belly with two belts that go around your waist. One sensor detects any contractions you may be having, even those you might not feel.
Why do they do NST during pregnancy?
A nonstress test is used to evaluate a baby’s health before birth . The goal of a nonstress test is to provide useful information about your baby’s oxygen supply by checking his or her heart rate and how it responds to your baby’s movement. The test might indicate the need for further monitoring, testing or delivery.
What happens if you fail a non-stress test during pregnancy?
If you get a nonreactive result, your practitioner may recommend other tests such as a biophysical profile or contraction stress test. But if your practitioner thinks that your baby’s no longer doing well in the womb, they’ll probably decide to induce labor or admit you to the hospital for prolonged observation .
What are three indications for conducting a non-stress test?
- Fetal growth restriction.
- Diabetes mellitus, pre-gestational and gestational diabetes treated with drugs.
- Hypertensive disorder, chronic hypertension, and preeclampsia.
- Decreased fetal movement.
- Post-term pregnancy.
- Multiple pregnancies.
What happens if you fail NST?
A nonreactive NST result can make you anxious — but it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong. Sometimes babies are just sleepy or less active. In some cases, however, it could mean your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen.
When do you get a NST in pregnancy?
Typically, a nonstress test is recommended when it’s believed that the baby is at an increased risk of death. A nonstress test may be done after 26 to 28 weeks of pregnancy . Certain nonstress test results might indicate that you and your baby need further monitoring, testing or special care.
How can I wake up my baby in the womb?
Some moms report that a short burst of exercise (like jogging in place) is enough to wake up their baby in the womb. Shine a flashlight on your tummy. Towards the middle of the second trimester, your baby may be able to tell the difference between light and dark; a moving light source may interest them.
What is a normal NST?
Interpretation. A nonstress test can be classified as normal, atypical, or abnormal. A normal nonstress test will show a baseline fetal heart rate between 110 and 160 beats per minute with moderate variability (5- to 25-interbeat variability) and 2 qualifying accelerations in 20 minutes with no decelerations.
Can a non stress test induce labor?
Your doctor may schedule a contraction stress test if concerned about how your baby will respond to contractions or to determine the fetal heart rate response to stimulation. However, the test can induce labor .
How would I know if my baby is in distress?
Signs of fetal distress may include changes in the baby’s heart rate (as seen on a fetal heart rate monitor), decreased fetal movement, and meconium in the amniotic fluid, among other signs.
What do contractions feel like?
Labor contractions cause discomfort or a dull ache in your back and lower abdomen , along with pressure in the pelvis. Some women might also feel pain in their sides and thighs. Some women describe contractions as strong menstrual cramps, while others describe them as strong waves that feel like diarrhea cramps.
How do they do a stress test on an unborn baby?
The test involves attaching one belt to the mother’s abdomen to measure fetal heart rate and another belt to measure contractions . Movement, heart rate and “reactivity” of heart rate to movement are measured for 20-30 minutes.
What is a positive NST?
An abnormal test (nonreactive NST, positive CST) is sometimes associated with adverse fetal or neonatal outcomes , while a normal test (reactive NST, negative CST) is usually associated with a neurologically intact and adequately oxygenated fetus.
Why does the NST machine beep?
The steady beeps you hear from this machine are actually tracked heartbeats and your child’s pulse . When an alarm goes off on the machine, this may indicate trauma in the womb, or just a faulty machine.
What if NST is non reactive?
Biophysical Profile (BPP)
If the NST results are not reactive, a BPP may be done. The BPP looks at the baby’s movement, body tone, breathing, and the results of the NST. The BPP also looks at amniotic fluid, which is the liquid that surrounds the baby in the uterus.
