The test is painless and simple, can be done in your practitioner's office or a hospital, and usually takes 40 to 60 minutes. If the results are concerning, your practitioner may decide to induce labor or admit you to the hospital for observation. This simple, painless procedure is done during pregnancy to evaluate your baby's condition. It's called a non-stress test because it doesn't place any stress on your baby.
During the non-stress test NST , your healthcare practitioner or a technician monitors your baby's heartbeat. Just as your heart beats faster when you're active, your baby's heart rate should go up while they're moving or kicking.
The test is typically done if you've gone past your due date , or in the month or two leading up to your due date if you're having a high-risk pregnancy. You may be advised to eat a meal just before the test in the hope that eating will stimulate your baby to move around more. Although there's no hard evidence that this works, it can't hurt. It's also a good idea to use the bathroom before the test, because you may be lying strapped to a monitor for up to an hour.
During the procedure, you lie on your left side, possibly with a wedge under your back that allows you to lean back. Your blood pressure will be monitored at regular intervals. A technician straps two devices to your belly: One monitors your baby's heartbeat, and the other records contractions in your uterus. The technician listens to and watches your baby's heartbeat on an electronic screen while your contractions are recorded on paper.
In some cases, you'll be asked to press a button when you feel the baby move. The test usually takes 40 to 60 minutes. If your baby's heart beats faster at least 15 beats per minute over his resting rate for at least 15 seconds on two separate occasions during a minute span, the result is normal, or "reactive.
If you are before 32 weeks of your pregnancy, the goal is 10 beats above baseline for 10 seconds. Providers may refer to this as 10x A normal NST result is reassuring and means that your baby is probably doing fine for now.
A non-stress test NST looks at your baby's heart rate over time usually 20 to 30 minutes, but sometimes up to an hour. The monitor has two sensors that are placed on your belly with two belts that go around your waist. One sensor detects any contractions you may be having, even those you might not feel. The other sensor tracks your baby's heart rate, which you can hear. The information is displayed on graph on paper or on a computer screen.
During the test, you'll be comfortable in a reclining chair. One of our nurses will watch the heart rate during the test to see how your baby is doing and make sure the heart rate increases when your baby moves. A biophysical profile BPP is an ultrasound exam that monitors the movement, body tone and breathing efforts of your baby. Reviewed by: Armando Fuentes, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Nonstress Test?
Why Are Nonstress Tests Done? Should I Have a Nonstress Test? Show references Gabbe SG, et al. Antepartum fetal evaluation. In: Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Feb. DeCherney AH, et al. Assessment of at-risk pregnancy. New York, N. Miller DA. Nonstress test and contraction stress test. Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ Special tests for monitoring fetal health. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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