Non Stress Test

[lidilou]

I'm 41 years old and had my 32 week ultrasound today and everything went all. Then, I found out that starting at 34 weeks and every week thereafter I need to have a NST. My husband is freaking out and I am trying to tell him there is nothing wrong but I'm a little concerned myself. Has anyone else ever had them?

[txtaurus]

In the NST they want to see an increase in heart rate during baby's movement. It goes up when they move and is lower when they are still. They told me, when he moves, it needs to go up atleast 10-15 beats per minute and stay up for 15 seconds before going back to resting heart rate.

[lidilou]

Really glad they did not say the fetal death in our appt. My husband would have gone thru the roof. I will be sure to drink orange juice to make lil dude start doing the polka.

[omg35andpregnant]

Wow I never knew that later fetal death, omggg so happy my boyfriend didn't hear that.

[MissouriMommaofthree]

I am 39 years old.  28 weeks along.  Dr wants to start seeing me every two weeks now.  And then at 36 weeks,  she wants to start the stress tests weekly.  I asked her a few questions about it and one of her responses was that older mothers are at a greater risk of late term fetal death so that is why she wants to monitor baby for the final month.  My husband was frustrated about it too.  But I'm not going to refuse them.  Now that the glucose test is done and over, I'm happy to do this.  Sounds easy.  I'm due July 20th.

[omg35andpregnant]

Wow I really love this, I went to my Dr apt today and was given a weekly prescription for this and I freaked out, I wanted to ask more questions but I had so much anxiety I couldn't. So it's basically monitors the heart beat ok

[mhv]

I had twins, and had to do them.  Just make sure you drink some orange juice, or sweet tea, candy ect about a 1/2 hour before, to get baby moving and active.  They didn't tell me that, and my first NST took forever!!!  
Congrats on your pregnancy!!!

[lidilou]

Thanks ladies. When the doctor was telling us about the test she left out the movement part only saying the heartbeat, which sent him into a tailspin of planning to take off every appt. I appreciate the insight.

[txtaurus]

I had it done and now that I'm near the end my dr does a short version at every checkup. They just strap monitors on your belly, the same ones they strap on you during labor.

[Chrissylpr]

It's seriously not a big deal. I'll start them as well at 34 weeks. Just basically listening and recording the heart rate and movement.

[dmschoon]

With my first pregnancy I had to have them starting at 34 week (had her at 37 weeks, no complications). It is just to monitor baby and how everything is going. Good luck.