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NonStress Test

The non-stress test is a painless test that measures the baby's heart rate and how it changes in response to movement. Elastic belts are placed on the mother's stomach connected to a monitor that records the baby's heart rate and movements. The test helps check how the placenta is providing oxygen to the baby and ensures the baby's heart rate increases with activity, showing the baby is healthy. It may be used if a baby is overdue, not growing normally, or the mother has health issues in her pregnancy. While a non-reactive test requires more evaluation, it does not mean the baby has problems.

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172 views

NonStress Test

The non-stress test is a painless test that measures the baby's heart rate and how it changes in response to movement. Elastic belts are placed on the mother's stomach connected to a monitor that records the baby's heart rate and movements. The test helps check how the placenta is providing oxygen to the baby and ensures the baby's heart rate increases with activity, showing the baby is healthy. It may be used if a baby is overdue, not growing normally, or the mother has health issues in her pregnancy. While a non-reactive test requires more evaluation, it does not mean the baby has problems.

Uploaded by

Rama_ichi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Routine and Special Tests During Pregnancy

Facts On
Our Goal is Healthy Children

Non-Stress Test
What is it?
The non-stress test is a simple and painless test that measures your babys heart rate and how his or her heart rate changes when your baby moves. A machine called a fetal monitor shows the changes in your babys heartbeat. Two elastic belts are placed around your stomach to hold two special sensors in place. These sensors are hooked up to the fetal monitor. One of these sensors records your babys movements or any contractions you might be having. The other sensor measures how fast your babys heart is beating. Your babys heartbeat and movements are printed on a paper monitor strip. The test lasts for about 30 minutes. You do not need to do anything special to get ready for the test.

Why is a non-stress test done?


Just like adults, the heart of a healthy baby will speed up when the baby is moving. The non-stress test helps to measure these changes in your babys heart rate. The test can help you and your doctor see how your baby is doing and how the afterbirth (or placenta) is working to provide oxygen to your baby. This test may be repeated every week (or more often) until your baby is born, depending on the reason for the test.

This test is often done if:


your baby is overdue your baby appears to be small or growing slowly your baby is more or less active than usual there is a small or a large amount of fluid around your baby you have had other tests (e.g. ultrasound or amniocentesis) and your doctor wants to see how your baby is doing you have some conditions in your pregnancy like high blood pressure or diabetes or are having pain in your stomach

Our Goal is Healthy Children

How will it affect my baby or me?


The non-stress test is painless and safe for you and your baby. In fact, many mothers enjoy hearing and watching their babies heartbeats on the monitor. You may hear your doctor or nurse call the test reactive when he or she is looking at the paper strip showing your babys heartbeat. This means that your babys heartbeat goes faster when he or she is moving around or when you are having a small contraction. This is a sign of a healthy baby. You may be told the monitor strip (or test) is non-reactive. This means that your babys heartbeat does not really change during the test. There are a number of reasons why your babys heartbeat does not change much. For example, your baby may be sleeping. Your doctor or nurse may decide to nudge your baby to get him or her to wake up or may decide to repeat the test later. Your doctor or nurse may do some other tests, such as ultrasound, to make sure your baby is healthy. It is important to remember that a non-reactive test does not mean your baby is having problems; it means that more tests may be needed to check how your baby is doing.

Our Goal is Healthy Children

Information for this article was adapted from:


Salamalekis E, Loghis C, Panayotopoulos N, Vitoratos N, Giannaki G, Christodoulacos G. Non-stress test: A fifteen-year clinical appraisal. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 1997; 24(2):79-81. Malcus P, Svenningsen N, Westgren M. Reactivity of non-stress tests and its relationship to outcome in infants born prior to the 33rd week of gestation. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1986; 65(8):835-8. Nebraska Medical Center. Nonstress test. 2004 (cited 2004 Jun 10). Available from: URL: http://www.nebraskamed.com/pregnancy/nst.cfm University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Nonstress test. 1997 (cited 2004 Jun 10). Available from: URL: http://obgyn.uihc.uiowa.edu/Patinfo/Delivery/nonstresstest.htm

The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is supported by: Government of Saskatchewan The Kinsmen Foundation Saskatchewan Abilities Council University of Saskatchewan Community at Large

For More Information on Routine and Special Tests During Pregnancy Contact:
1319 Colony Street Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z1 Phone: (306) 655-2512 Fax: (306) 655-2511 Email: [email protected] Website: www.preventioninstitute.sk.ca

September 2005

Our Goal is Healthy Children

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