Non-Stress Test

[Angelic]

Hello. This board hasn't really been moving but I am going to post this question anyway. I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and have Lupus, among many other things. At my appointment last Friday, my Perinatologist wants me to go in twice a week for non-stress tests till the baby is born. I am worried!!! I don't know what to expect from this and am very scared they are going to find something wrong! What is it the doctor is looking for? I know that the baby's heartrate is supposed to increase with activity but what if it doesn't? Please help! Has anyone gone through this test? Can you give me some more information on what to expect?

Angie

[cath]

Dear Angie,

Hi, and congratulations on geting to 32 weeks. That is great as your baby has now developed lungs that are strong enough to breathe with if she/he had to. :flowers:

The non stress test is basically a CTG (a monitor of the baby's heat beat through your abdominal wall). They will be looking at how much the heart rate varies, whether there is enough variation, any decelerations or accelerations. They may also do a doppler which looks at the blood flow in the cord to and from the placenta. In addition, I expect they may do an ultrasound to check the baby's growth and the volume of amniotic fluid around the baby.

All of this information will help them measure how well your placenta is doing at growing your baby succesfuly. It helps them detect early any indications that things are beginning to deteriorate. By keeping a close eye on how your baby is doing, they can make a beter decision about whether your baby is better of inside you or being born. The good news is that at this stage, the baby has a great chance either way. This is also a pretty standard response to any 'high risk' pregnancy (which of course Lupus is). Ie the doctors are doing the right thing, but unless they have given you a specific reason to worry, the are most likely just being cautious and careful. :nurse:

You can also help keep an eye on your baby's well being by being aware of his/her movements. A baby should move 10 or more times a day. If you are worried that the baby hasn't moved, try drinking a cold drink or icecream and/or try lying down. This may well encourage the baby to wriggle. If you are worried, phone your hospital for a check up. They really shouldn't mind doing this day or night.

As for personal experince, no I haven't had this done myself, but I have seen it done lots of times (I'm a midwife).

All the best!! :flowers:

X C X

[jenawri]

Hi, Angie,
I had one of these every week for about 5 weeks at the end of my 1st pregnancy and they are a piece of cake. All you have to do is lay down! They put a big belt around your belly that has a heart monitor attached to it and they listen to the baby's heartbeat. I don't remember for how long... I can remember reading a lot of magazines. It is simply a precautionary thing and it will probably make you feel a lot more relaxed, that they are monitoring your babies progress so closely. Good luck and don't worry. It is really fun to listen to your babies heartbeat!
Jennifer

[Angelic]

The test was a piece of cake! We passed it no problem. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor and gave me a button to push every time I felt the baby move. It was over in about 20 minutes! I already had an ultrasound scheduled for Friday so I have three appointments this week, two NST's and one ultrasound. They are monitoring the baby very closely and it is a relief to know that if anything goes wrong, they will catch it right away. Thank you for your replies!

Angie

[Regina]

Hi there, :wave: i was taken into hospital at 26 weeks and had these tests until my son was born at 28 weeks, they monitor the baby's heart rate to check that all is ok.

Dopler scans are also a good thing as they measure the blood flow through the placenta to make sure that your baby is receiving enough nutrients, in my case he wasnt and had stopped growing. Seems like you got to 32 weeks ok, the rest should be a breeze as long as you dont worry.

Good luck :thumbs:

[believe]

Hello Angie,

Definitely congrats on getting to 32weeks!! Couldn't have put things better than Cath.

I'm going on 36 weeks and have been doing the NST every week since 30 weeks and will until due date. I find it relaxing and I bring my Pug to keep me company. It's also reassuring we Preggie Lupies get such meticulous prenatal care.

Take Care,
Believe

[Angelic]

Hey Believe!!! I was wondering how you have been. I haven't seen any posts from you lately. This board has been pretty quiet latey. How are you doing? Your at 36 weeks now uh? Wow, not much longer to go!

You have the NST once a week uh? I wonder why my doctor wants me to go in twice a week. Not that I really mind. My husband and I love hearing our little boy's heartbeat for a long period of time like that. It is just inconvenient you know. We have another ultrasound tomorrow, I can't wait for that! All of my preggie friends are jealous I get so many ultrasounds but I told them they should feel lucky that they have no health problems that could interfere with their pregnancies.

So are your doctors doing anything special for your delivery? Are they doing a c-section or inducing early? Are you limited on the drugs you can take during labor? If my platelets are below 100,000, then I cannot have an epidural so I am just not planning on having one.

Angie

[debralee]

Angelic,

A non-stress test is nothing to worry about. I had pre-term labor with my daughter and had to have a non-stress test every week.


They will monitor the heart rate of the baby and it will tell them if ouy are having any contractions. This will help the doctors know exactly how the baby and you are doing. It will also help them know in an early stage if there might be a complaintion. I think it is a good thing that the doctor is being careful and it isn't an indication that something is or will go wrong.

I found them to be enjoyable as I laid in the bed and listen to the babies heart beat. Relax and enjoy listening to your babies heartbeat.

I will keep ouy and your baby in my prayers.

God Bless,
Deb
:love:

[believe]

Hello Angie,

I am now off work and seem busier than when I was working :wacko: . It's all good though- I nean a good busy. Because I live in a small one bedroom unit, it's been kinda stressful trying to make room for baby.

After doing weekly fetal cardiac echos, I stopped at 30 weeks and proceeded to weekly NSTs. I'm in with some baby appointment 3x biweekly, and 2x biweekly. Yes, it's good we get such meticulous care.

Have you got your baby stuff all prepared? Luggage packed? Did you have a baby shower? How was that?

I feel like I am running out of time and trying to get baby stufff ready and reorganize our shoebox of a place. Need to get luggage packed this week. Car seat in car and baby clothes are washed. Had baby showers late; therefore, gots to get organized now.

I think natural labor and delivery would be nice; however, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how things go...I guess we lupies know that we have to be very flexible.

Take Care,
:flowers: Bellieve

[Angelic]

Hey Believe. Yes, we have pretty much everything we need. We are going to continue to stock up on diapers but we have everything else we need for now. We do want to shampoo our carpets this weekend and then set the changing table up down in the living room along with the Pack N Play and the swing my brother is lending us. Then we will rearrange the baby's room and get the decorations up on the wall and we will be all done! We don't have the car seat in the car yet, I think it is a bit early for that. I am only 33 weeks now so maybe in a couple of weeks we will put the car seat in. For now, it would be more of a hassle because my DH races RC buggies and he needs the back seat for our canopy. He will be done in two weeks.

Yes, I had two baby showers last month. We got almost everything we needed at our showers. It was great!

Adam's diaper bag is packed however, I still need to get some travel essentials for my bag. Mine is at least started now but not finished.

I think I have no choice but to go natural and I don't mind. Epidurals scare me anyway, I don't like the thought of not feeling anything from the waiste down. I have already lost feeling in my upper left thigh because of this pregnancy and I hate it.

If I don't hear from you before you have the baby, good luck to you!!! Keep us posted!!! Can't wait to hear the good news!

Angie