non-stress test?

[RyvreWillow]

Can anyone tell me *exactly* what this is, what it's for, what's involved, etc?

i had an OB appointment today, and the doc "couldn't find the head" (only way he tried was through an internal exam, and apparently he has stubby fingers :P ) He was very conserned as to why the baby wouldn't have dropped by now (i'm due in 6 days), so he had his LPN do an ultrasound in the office, to make sure she's head-down and there was nothing else going on. He found that the cord *might* be around the neck, but there was plenty of fluid around and the heartbeat and everything else was great, so he said it really wasn't a problem, just to remind the doc during delivery, so he could look for it. Okay, fine.

On my way home, a nurse called and said that the doc and LPN discussed it, and they decided i need a non-stress test. They wanted me to come in today, but i had to get my husband to work, so i made an appointment for tomorrow.

Maybe i'm being dramatic, but i feel like these people have been trying their damndest my whole pregnancy to find something wrong with me. I'm hoping at least this will prove to them that we ARE totally healthy, and they're just going to have to wait until we're good and ready for the birth, lol.

[Mandalaia]

Basically they just hook you up to the fetal heartbeat monitor and contraction monitor. They make sure that the heartbeat is ok and they monitor how the baby reacts to you having contractions. I had one last week and everything was fine. My doc was also concerned at my appt that she couldn't feel the baby's head and she did an internal to make sure it was the head instead of the butt. Apparently it's hard to tell externally which is which once the baby drops. The NST is really easy, they keep you hooked up for 1-3 hours, I was only on it for about an hour. Good luck!!

[Stephane]

Yeah, just sitting on the monitors for an hour or two, as opposed to a stress test, in which they try to induce contractions through meds or nipple stimulation. It's only to see if you're contracting and how the baby reacts. I suppose they are concerned since there may be a looped cord?

I don't understand the concern with the baby not having dropped yet though, since this isn't your first pregnancy! Most skilled practitioners can tell whether the baby is head down by external palpation. Weird.

[RyvreWillow]

Ok...what if i'm not having contractions (i'm not, or at least not regularly, or even every day)? Isn't the whole thing kinda pointless then? Ugh, i am confused. They're going to say "yup, baby's heart is still beating" Wow. i think i am seriously going to kill someone.

And the head thing...she's been head-down in every ultrasound (and the LPN seems to be able to tell by feeling my belly) for at least the last 22 weeks...wouldn't i be able to tell, by now, if she suddenly spun around backwards? i asked the nurse that, and she looked at me like i was CRAZY to suggest i might have a clue what was going on, and she went on to explain (slowly) that they just wanted to be sure, blah blah blah.

[Mandalaia]

Another thing they look for in the NST is to see if the baby's heartbeat is jumping up when they move. If you aren't having contractions then they can at least see that the baby is active and healthy that way.

[freestyler]

I think you could feel OK with refusing this, I have refused them before. I'd always gone 42 weeks, and doctors often get all antsy if nothing has "happened" so to speak, by 40/41 weeks. How stupid. Like the baby can read a calendar. Anyway, my third pregnancy they wanted me to do a NST at 41 weeks, but I refused and just made sure I could feel baby move and all. I think I did a kick count. Then this baby I only went 40 weeks---yeah!

Who cares if baby hasn't dropped yet? They don't usually except first babies, until labor starts. I would not be concerned! And as far as the ultrasound goes, it is NOT a good predicter of whether the baby will have a nuchal cord, since the baby and the cord move around so much during labor and prior to it. If there is concern about a nuchal cord, I personally would want more external fetal monitoring during labor. Not constant, but definitely more than every 15 minutes. Three of my four babies had a nuchal cord--in two cases, it was a real problem (oxygen cut off during birth, requiring emergency intervention.) But this usually is not a problem--I think I just have reckless babies!

MOST of the time you'd notice if baby suddenly went not-head-down. Like, with this baby I could tell she kept going sideways, and sure enough, she WAS stuck sideways during labor! But all you need to know is whether he/she is head down, not too much more info than that. The baby will move so much during labor anyway! And it's surprising, but even a fantastic care provider cannot always tell which is the presenting part. Either by external or internal exam. My little girl that was just born was very sneaky that way---the OB had to do an ultrasound when labor had started to see if she was still head down! She moved so much and lay in such contorted positions that it was impossible to tell.

Anyway, does any of this help? A NST can't hurt, but it also isn't essential if you're feeling your baby move plenty. I think any intervention always opens the door to more interventions, and a NST is no exception unfortunately. Nice to know if baby is head down, but beyond that, I wouldn't want to know much more. Just my two cents.
Good luck, hon!!! Hugs to you for your birth and everything!!!

[RyvreWillow]

actually, yeah, that helped alot

i'm hoping that if i do this, i can tell the doc once and for all "see, everything is FINE, now leave me alone!!!"

[operamommy]

I had a NST on Saturday. As others mentioned, you're simply hooked up to the monitors and they look for heartbeat accelerations. I *did* contract during my entire test, but they still didn't get whatever magical number they were looking for, so they offered me a ginger ale, which for some reason helped things. The only bad thing about mine was that the doc said it would take 30 minutes, and in reality it took 2 hours.

[dylan27]

not really sure of the purpose

I've had several NSTs- twice a week for the last few weeks.
They aren't a big deal, but I'm still not sure of the point. If they heard the heartbeat at the appt, there probably isn't anything wrong with the cord.

The one time I had a rapid decel (the heartbeat dropped below 80, indicating the cord was being cut off), all they did was keep me hooked up on the machine an extra couple of hours to monitor and call the doctor. Not sure what else they can do.

Normally, mine are done in about 30 minutes. My doc just wants two accelerations within 15 minutes of each other.

What they are tracking is that when the baby moves, the heartbeat is increasing. If it doesn't, it could indicate that there is some distress or that the cord is being cut off somehow. Everytime the baby moves, the heartbeat should increase by at least 15 beats.

Hope this helps...

[buffybutt]

Im having a nst/afi on friday, not sure what the afi is, I think thats the one to check the placenta, Gee I should really of asked more questions but I'm feeling icky and was sick during my prenatal. Im 41w5 days today so I will be 42 wks when I take the test. Im doing it cause I dont feel the little guy move as much as before, obviously, but as a first time mama I get worried. I know that he is okay but still. I have to be in active labor by the 28th or I will have to go to the hospital and I dont want that at all, so come on little guy, Lets go :LOL

[freestyler]

What is magical about the 28th, if you don't mind my asking? Unless there's a medical issue of note, I think fixating on a date can just set you up NOT to labor by then, by making more stress hormones circulate in your body. Remember, the baby doesn't have a calendar and couldn't care less whether it's the 28 th or not! My first three babies were born at 42 weeks, which really IS OK. It really is normal. (I'm sure you know this already!!) It sucks but it's normal.

Let your body relax into whatever time it feels like starting labor. You'll have less stress. And speaking of stress, if the NST makes you feel more at ease, and helps you wait with peace of mind, do it! Peace of mind is important.

[buffybutt]

Freestyler,
Because of the birthing center if Im not in active labor by three weeks past my edd they cant keep me and then I would have to go to the hospital to have the baby. Thats the only reason why, if for not that I wouldnt care at all. I really want to have him at the birthing center or heck I would take home too, I just dont want to have him in the hospital. Im trying to keep my mind off of it but I so want a waterbirth and all the hospitals around here wont let you deliver in the tub, except ohsu, and I wouldnt take my dog there. Sorry that sounded bad but My family had a bad experience there.

Thanks for the encouragment, I totally need it!