Tell me about NSTs

[MiaMama]

Hi,
My fundal height is lagging (small for gestation age by about 4cm now), and my 3yo daughter was an emergency induction for IUGR. With her, they missed it until 38+3w, so they never checked anything to see if she was gaining or doing well, because she was already full term. They just strapped me to the bed and gave me cytotec. I am 37+4 weeks today.

My midwife knows I am concerned about a another crash induction, so we scheduled a NST to check on fetal wellbeing.

I have never had one of these before. Can you please tell me what you know about them if you had to have them? What should I expect?

[Calleiah]

From what I remember of my NST's 4 years ago with my second child, they put you on a monitor pretty much like they do on the L&D floor with a readout printing of heart rate, and any contraction activity. They may give you a button to squeeze if you feel a kick or fetal movement. They do it for a set amount of time and then look for appropriate accelerations in heart rate, and movement. My recommendation is to take a book or magazine you can flip through so you dont drive yourself insane staring at the machine.
Keep in mind, thats what I remember, and may not be exactly accurate. Good luck, and hopefully baby looks great!

[mammabunny]

I've had 3 so far. They strap on two little discs that monitor the baby's heart rate. The reading prints out on a sheet of paper and you have to click a button every time the baby moves. Each time my baby behaved differently. One time she was sleeping and the heartrate never got out of the 120s and she didn't move. The tech came in and had me drink juice and lean to my side, the baby woke up and moved around. I think they are looking for any odd patterns, anything that looks out of the ordinary. So even though my baby behaved differntly at each NST (which were at different times of the day) the behaviors were still normal. But Callieah is right, it's hard to not stare at the monitor and watch the readings and try to interpret them yourself.

[MaerynPearl]

I had several with both... with DS the NST is why I was induced (he was not reacting correctly to the small contractions I was already having)

they put these two elastic bands behind you and strap them to these discs that are connected to machines... as far as I was told one monitors the heart and the other monitors movement/if you are having contractions. I may be wrong though because my last NST was nearly 5 years ago!

I agree take something to keep you busy. It is SUPER boring and theres never anything good on tv there lol. And as PP said do not worry if they come in and say baby has a low heartrate/isnt moving and that they may be asleep because that likely is what is going on. I was given a graham cracker and some OJ when that happened with DD.

[Sri Radha]

I have been having them weekly. Yup, they strap two disk monitors to you...one for the heart rate and the second for contractions. They like to see the heart rate rise when the baby moves. So if your baby is normally in the 120's they like to see it go up to the 140-150 range at times. And you have the button you push when you feel the baby move.I also have an u/s to check fluid levels. I don't know if they all do this or not. It's really not a big deal. I have had 4 so far this pregnancy and unless baby comes before then, I will have one on Friday.

[umsami]

I've had to have them twice per week during the third trimester for all of my pregnancies.... so here's my experience:

Usually, they have a recliner type chair for you to lie down in. The nurse takes two belts (elastic things) and puts them around you. Then she puts the little monitors underneath... positioning one for heartbeat and the other for contractions. Then you just sit there.... and sit there... while the machine traces baby's heartbeat and your contractions (if any). They want to see the HR speed up at some point... and once they get the tracings they need... you're free to go. Most places I've gone have at least two recliners, so I usually haven't had to wait long to go in... but if you're also getting an u/s, then sometimes you have to wait for the u/s tech.

Boring... but painless.

[lifeguard]

I just wanted to add that I actually kind of liked doing the nst's with ds. I wasn't actually worried anything might be wrong - we were just being overally cautious but I found it really reassuring to watch & listen to his little heartbeat go up with each movement & then stabilize again.

After my first one I made sure to dress warm though 'cause I froze during that first one!

[Chryseis]

I had NST's for the last 5 weeks of my last pregnancy and I've been having them for a couple weeks so far this pregnancy (I'm 36 weeks). Our hospital actually has NST's done right in L&D at the hospital, so I do get a private room. I'm strapped to two monitors, one for contractions/movement, the other for heartrate. If you're there for blood pressure issues they'll also keep you hooked up to that for the entire time of the test. For the NST's I've had I've never been given a button to push when I feel movement, all the movement seems to appear on the monitor.

I have to admit, I really like my NST's, I find them strangely relaxing. I've honestly not been concerned about any problems, but it is really fun and reassuring to sit and listen to the heartrate and watch it go up and down when it needs to. Not to mention that I get a good hour to hang out alone, watch TV and have delicious ice cold water (or juice if I desired--and didn't have GD) brought to me by a couple of my favorite nurses (our hospital's a.m. shift is great for some reason).

[staceychev]

Warning from a woman who had an NST on Tuesday and was moved to the PETU for further monitoring: don't have caffeine or sugar, or, gasp, a Coca-Cola, before you go. Baby's heart-rate was high so they wanted to continue monitoring me. That's what I get for falling off the crunchy wagon, huh?

Oh, and definitely bring something to read!

[MeepyCat]

I had NSTs twice a day for a while (I was on hospital bed rest). The only advice I would add to what you've gotten already is pee first. It's half an hour to an hour, and you'll get better results (fewer contractions, etc.) and be more comfortable if you have an empty bladder.

[AnnieNimIty]

I had 2 NST's with my last pregnancy. A couple tips, ask ahead if they want you to give them a urine sample and do that before they strap you down. Tip #2 you don't have to lay on your back for an effective NST. I was on my left side both times, cause I asked to be.
#3 I love hearing my baby's heart beat but 20+ minutes of it was driving me nuts. SO, I turned away from the monitor, and asked them to turn off the sound and just give me the results afterwards.

For some NST's if there is an OB or Midwife there they might want to do an internal exam... IMO it is not necessary. I didn't have a single pelvic exam until post partum.


Good luck!!