Non stress test?

[thefarmerswife]

I was just wondering what a non stress test involves and did anyone do the test/ opt out of it? I have an apointment tomorrow and I didn't know if it was a big deal or not, and how homebirthers felt about it. I hate all those test and was hoping to opt out.

[MrsJewelsRae]

Stress tests are not usually done routine, they're normally done if you are having some type of complication or if you are overdue. I had them several times a week for the last 2 wks of my first pg because I had pre eclampsia- planned hospital birth but had to transfer from midwives to OB for high risk. Then with my 3rd my midwife sent me in for a NST at 38 wks due to high blood pressure. I passed perfectly and my bloodwork for PIH screen was great. Then at nearly 41 weeks my b/p spiked again to 160/100 and she sent me to the hospital for another NST and b/w. I passed the NST but my b/w showed I was developing pre eclampsia again so my homebirth was gone and the OB on call scheduled an induction but said once he got it going my midwives woul handle the rest of the L&D. I ended up going into labor on my own that night and had my ds after one hour in the hospital, just me and dh and the midwives- a natural hospital birth.

The NST I find to be very relaxing and I really enjoyed them. I would get a private room and the nurse would put 2 belts on me- 1 to monitor the baby's heartrate and movements and 1 to monitor contractions, I was also given a button to push when I felt movements. All the info would print out on a graph and the baby's heartbeat would echo through the room the whole time, it was special cause all I had to do was focus on my little one. The nurses brought me a drink and a snack each time and would face the machine to me so I could watch the graph printing- it was neat to see the baby's heartrate respond to his movements and then slow down again as he relaxed. They also want to make sure that the baby is handling well any contractions you may be having.

If there is no indication for concern I would turn down the test if you don't want it. However, if there is a good reason for doing it, I wouldn't personally worry about it.

[phatchristy]

That is the sort of thing that they would do if the mom was overdue (here it's once you're past 41 weeks) or having some other issue where they'll want to check the baby's status. Where I go (freestanding birth center which offers homebirth as one option) they actually have a machine in the birth center that they can do the monitoring. From what I hear it's basically just monitoring for contractions/heartrate.

Is there a particular reason why they want you to do an NST?

[thefarmerswife]

Originally Posted by phatchristy

That is the sort of thing that they would do if the mom was overdue (here it's once you're past 41 weeks) or having some other issue where they'll want to check the baby's status. Where I go (freestanding birth center which offers homebirth as one option) they actually have a machine in the birth center that they can do the monitoring. From what I hear it's basically just monitoring for contractions/heartrate.

Is there a particular reason why they want you to do an NST?

Maybe I have it wrong, but I swear thats what the nurse told me over the phone when I had to reschedual my apointment....I have no idea why. Hmm....I go tomorrow, and I'll have to let you know what comes up.
:

[taramommy]

Some practices do these tests routinely at 40 weeks; it really depends on the practice you are with.

If you have no risk factors, and you come up with a positive on the NST, it is more likely to be a false positive than a true positive, so intervening on the basis of a NST result alone is risky. Henci Goer has some good info about this in The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and www.childbirthconnection.org has it too, but you might have to pay to download the Guide to Effective Care, I can't remember whether that's free or not. Great chapter in there about tests of fetal well-being. If they are also going to measure amniotic fluid volume, be sure to drink 2 liters of water before the test. The fluid volume is estimated via ultrasound. A full bladder is not necessary in order for them to do the ultrasound itself like it is earlier in pregnancy, but being extra-hydrated helps prevent false positives on the test.

For the NST itself, keep in mind babies in utero can sleep at least 20 minutes at a time, so sometimes a "non-reassuring" result can be because baby is asleep. If that happens, ask for an extension on the time and a glass of fruit juice to raise your blood sugar and get baby active.

[thefarmerswife]

So I went today and my midwife was just as confused as I was about the test....she had no idea why they had me down to take it today :-D
So it was all a goof.....so glad, but thanks for the input because I was able to tell her I didn't want to do it and wasn't afraid.

[taramommy]

Glad to hear it worked out like that for you! I definitely wouldn't want an NST without a specific indication, myself.

[Arwyn]

I would only do it with an indication, and being less than 42 weeks is not an indication to me.

Glad you got it straightened out.