About NST....

[chantal21]

I have never had an NST before. I have to go today and have one at 11:20am. What exactly will they be doing and looking for? How long does it usually last? (those who have had one)  Will it also pick up any contractions that I may have? Or just measure the heartrate? Also, I was reading something that said they don't usually perform this test before 28 weeks, is that true? I will be 28 weeks on wednesday, does that really matter at all? This is all new to me.
Thanks!!

[chantal21]

Thanks girls! The test went great and I had one contraction but the machine didn't pick it up. I have another post for my update now. Never a dull moment in my life.

[spade22]

Just to add about the NIST - it is supposed to take 20-45 mins however, if can take up to 2h if baby doesnt move enough.

[peekawho]

Bring any notes you have about how many contractions you are having over the course of the past few days, too.  

All this might be normal, might not.  Some pregnant women seem to contract all the time.  I worked with a nurse who was off work from 26 weeks with preterm contractions--she contracted ALL the time 12-15 contractions an hour.  They tried everything to stop them, nothing did.  She was in the hospital for weeks.  

Finally they gave up and said "We can't do anything else--if you are going to deliver, then you will".  (this was at about 33-34 weeks).  They stopped all meds (she was getting other problems from them).  She continued to contract until they had to induce her finally at 41 weeks.  

So...it may not be a problem.  Your care providers are simply being smart and doing the right thing.  You can insist on seeing a doctor, if you have any concerns.  

[chantal21]

Thanks!! I thought it was a little strange...when the dr. told me on friday she wanted to see me and check my cervix again. I asked if they were going to do that and the receptionist told me the nurse probably would. I'm just confused. I'd rather just deal with the doc directly as she said she wanted to see me today anyway. The receptionist was being a slight pain the butt on the phone...this always happens to me! lol. They said if anything comes up, then I will have to come back at 1:20 today to be seen by the doctor. We'll see...I'm not sure how much they will gain from the NST...if it is for contractions, what if I don't even contract at all while I am there? With my luck I won't contract and baby probably won't move...haha. Then it will obviously look like nothing is wrong. Yesterday I had 9 in one hour...I didn't call because then I only had 4 in one hour and then like 2 the next. Had it continued with that many, I would have called right away. I only had 2 this morning so far, and the one was really strong! So I am hoping that at least the doctor will be there (not just the nurse) to see what's going on. My husband is going to try to be there for at least 20 min. of it and if I have to go back he will stay with me.

[pinkbelle]

i had them done every week when i turned 35 weeks.. because i had pre eclampsia .. they wanted to make sure the baby was doing ok in there.. my last one was when i was 37 weeks and the baby only made one accerlation in a 45 minute period..  and her heart rate was very low.. so they induced me that day!

[peekawho]

Why is it being done?  There isn't much to be gained from it prior to 28 weeks, to be sure.  

What it is, is simply hooking you up to a fetal monitor for about 20-45 minutes.  It should record BOTH your babies heart rate, and contractions.  

They will look for accelerations or speed-ups in the baby's heart rate when the baby moves.  You will usually be instructed to push a button every time you feel the baby move.  This way, the provider reading the test will know if the acceleration is occuring when the baby moves.

The problem is, at this gestational age, it doesn't mean much if you don't see accelerations.  The baby has to have a fairly mature neurological system to have the accelerations when there is movement.  Some babies will; some won't.  It just doesn't mean a whole lot right now.

However, sometimes they will say its an NST, when what they are REALLY looking for are contractions.  This might be the case with you.  They will monitor the baby too, just to be sure there isn't anything overtly worrisome going on.

Good luck!  At least it isn't painful!