talk to me about NSTs.

[southernmommie]

What all is involved in a NST and what should I bring? It's 45 min- 1 hour long. That is all I know.

[HappyMommy2]

I eat a donut in the car on the way. It makes the baby jump around and kick a lot, and that is what they like to see.

[southernmommie]

I can't eat a donut. I have gestational diabetes. :/

[Naomismom]

Keep in mind I've only had one, but it involved sitting in a big squishy armchair and watching TV while my kids were taken care of by a sitter. I had one of those L&D monitoring belts on and pushed a button every time I felt the baby move. Easy peasy!

[annettemarie]

Bring a book. You go, you lie down and they attach the belts to measure the baby and maybe one to measure contractions. You may or may not be given a little button to push every time the baby kicks. I've heard they can take 20 minutes to an hour depending on how cooperative the babies are and what your care providers are looking for.

[luv-my-boys]

omgosh if I had a quarter for all the NST that I have had over the yrs...heck I think at this point I can set them up myself.

You either lie down or are seated and they attach a wide stretchy elastic band with the monitor on it (it may be 2 monitors about the size of a deck of cards depending on brand) and you sit or lie until the time is up. It helps to get a view on how well the baby is doing heartrate,contractions,movement

[southernmommie]

I start tomorrow and go weekly for those. I guess its a good break from the kids where I can relax. I'm only 32 weeks. So I technically have 7 to sit through. (I'm hoping maybe 4 or 5.)

[hannybanany]

Can you drink some juice or something before you go? I always had to drink juice or eat something sugary to get my DD moving so the Dr wouldn't freak out about her not moving enough.

Other than that, it's actually pretty relaxing, bring a book or magazine. Mine were done while reclining in a big comfy recliner.

[taffywelsh]

if you want to make the baby jump and kick, I have found that ice water or some other freezing beverage makes that happen...doesn't need sugar.
Also, kegel exercises work to make the baby squirm around.
Haven't had the NST but this is what works when I wish to feel the baby move.

[huggingmama]

She probably won't be able to drink juice, again because of the gestational diabetes, which is why they are probably doing the tests...?

I had GD with my last pregnancy and had to have these weekly. It is easy, but what a waste of time it was... and unnecessary stress about the baby, especially if you feel the baby moving regularly yourself. My GD developed again this pregnancy and I'm hoping to put off the NSTs as long as possible and just have a few. Same thing with the ultrasounds that had to be done every other week. Hoping for as few as I have to do, just to make sure everything is ok.

Sending you hugs, southernmama!

[southernmommie]

Thanks.

You're right about the juice. Absolutely NO juice at all for the rest of the pregnancy because of the gd. Which is why they are doing the NDTs because I'm on glyburide to help manage it. I think they are doing the ultrasounds with the NSTs weekly too according to my midwife. But I'll know for sure at my appointment tomorrow. I plan on asking them. Thing is, I don't know what they are monitoring for and why. I already make big babies and have borderline too much fluid with every pregnancy as it is. Now that I'm gd, what does that mean with the weekly monitoring? What are they monitoring?

[huggingmama]

Originally Posted by southernmommie

Thing is, I don't know what they are monitoring for and why. I already make big babies and have borderline too much fluid with every pregnancy as it is. Now that I'm gd, what does that mean with the weekly monitoring? What are they monitoring?

I make big babies, too--actually, my family does... DS weighed the same as I did at birth (8 lbs, 11 oz). My brother was a "preemie" born two weeks early who weighed 7 lbs, 12 oz.

I guess I can sort of understand the ultrasounds to see if the baby is "too large" as a result of the GD (even though USs can be off by a pound), but I too don't get the weekly NSTs for GD. They don't want GD babies too be "lazy" and "fat"? (Sorry... I'm in a mood... the stress of such a limited low-carb diet and non-stop blood sugar testing makes me often wonder whether it's the GD or the stress about it that's bad for the baby.) Please ask and let us know.

[southernmommie]

I will. My first baby was a boy and weighed just shy of 10 lbs. at 5 days overdue.
Then came my 3 girls at
5 1/2 weeks early at 6 lbs. 13 oz.
on due date a 7 lbs. 11 oz.
and then 38 weeks at 7 lbs. 14 oz.

So this being a boy again, who knows. This family is know for bigger boy babies, but big babies anyways. I will definitely ask tomorrow at my appointment and see what the input is.

[lifeguard]

I had weekly nst's with ds because of the gd. I actually found it kind of reassuring. After the first time I always made sure to bring a sweater (I nearly froze the first session) & a good book. Also, make sure to pee before they strap you in & get into a comfortable position - you don't have to be flat on your back - but they might need to adjust things a little if you want to move into a different position.