non stress test?

cicon · 03-18-2005, 04:49 PM

Hi everyone

I'm now 31 wks pregnant and am wondering how many of you have had non stress tests and how often, and at how many wks. I am a "high risk" in that I've had several miscarriages, have an incomp. cervix, and am on a daily blood thinner (Lovenox) due to an inherited clotting disorder. My OB thinks there is no need for non stress tests while I have heard of high risk people getting them weekly. Any insight as to the benefits to doing the test as well as your knowledge of them would be great. I'm having a hard time convincing my Dr.

Thanks
Cynthia

Blondie8 · 03-18-2005, 05:46 PM

Hello,
I started once weekly NST's at 33 wks, I'm now 36 wks. I have the same conditions as you in addition to previous PTL and a second trimester loss and a sac leak and gestational diabetes in this pregnancy.

In discussing it with my Peri I was recommended to have NST's due to the Heparin and Gest DM therefore Insulin mix I'm taking. I don't know if she would have recommended an NST if I did not have the Gest DM in addition to the other conditions. Either way, NST's are not hugely helpful in that they solely measure the "stress" level of the baby at that particular moment. During my first NST we were monitored for 30 mins, now it's 20 mins.

Some health professionals don't feel that they are of particular value (I guess your OB is one of them) and apparently the old "kick" measurements tracking (which I also do daily) are of at least the same statistical value in diagnosing problems as NST's. My Peri wanted me to do both and she was empathatic I do the daily monitoring and inform her immediately if there were any sudden or gradual "down" trends.

In all honestly I find the daily 1 hour home monitoring I'm doing more emotionally comforting than the NST, though the one thing that the NST has provided me with is a sense of contractions, as I haven't felt anything. But really, that's about it...

Catherine0404 · 03-18-2005, 06:29 PM

Starting at 28 weeks I started getting a series of weekly tests that my peri said I should have (measuring my fluid levels etc.). One of the tests is the NST but the tech's said they could not perform that until I am 32 weeks and they also said since I am having twins, that test may take up to an hour to complete. I too am considered high risk and am now a little over 30 weeks! Good luck.

cicon · 03-18-2005, 07:12 PM

Hi there
Can you (or someone) pls. tell me how to do the home monitoring? I assume this is the KICK test??? What are you supposed to do - count the number of kicks per hour? How many times a day? What is a "good" number of kicks?
Thanks
Cynthia

Blondie8 · 03-18-2005, 08:04 PM

Cynthia I can scan the paper and send you a copy if you'd like. It's a two page info sheet (1 being info and 1 a graph) and it's important to know about what's a "kick" and what's a "roll" and other some info. If you have PM priviledges please PM me your email and I'll scan it and send it to you tomorrow as a pdf.

It's important to try to do it at the same time each day. I have a couple of different versions of the same chart as I've copied some out of books also. The minimum is 10 movements per hour but baby's in utero can sleep up to 90 mins at a time.

cicon · 03-18-2005, 08:27 PM

HI Dee

Thanks for offering your information - I appreciate it. My OB seems very laid back about the issue of kicks. My placenta is in the front which makes it harder for me to feel kicks. I hope what you're sending will still apply to me (?)....in any case I would like to see it. I didn't realize rolls vs. kicks are important to differentiate. For what reason?

I'm not sure what PM means (sorry!) Is that personal email? Do you want me to send you my address?
Thanks
Cynthia

cicon · 03-18-2005, 08:27 PM

HI Dee

Thanks for offering your information - I appreciate it. My OB seems very laid back about the issue of kicks. My placenta is in the front which makes it harder for me to feel kicks. I hope what you're sending will still apply to me (?)....in any case I would like to see it. I didn't realize rolls vs. kicks are important to differentiate. For what reason?

I'm not sure what PM means (sorry!) Is that personal email? Do you want me to send you my address?
Thanks
Cynthia

Blondie8 · 03-21-2005, 11:01 AM

Sorry about the delay Cynthia. Busy couple of days.

PM is personal message, if you can use the personal message option on FT please send me your email address. If you don't have PM priviledges you need to post your email address so I can get this info sheet to you. Whatever you're more comfortable with is fine with me.

The info sheet is quite detailed and explains how to individually count movements when you're feeling all sorts of different sensations.

RareEndo · 03-30-2005, 06:05 AM

Hi,

I started my NST at 31 weeks and get them twice weekly. I also have a weekly U/S.

The reasons for my NST is my baby is IUGR (small) and at 31 weeks was found to have low amniotic fluid (thankfully it is back up due to bed rest and lots of water)

The NST isn't necessarily doing kick counts, I do have to do kick counts at home twice daily but that is in addition to the NST's at the hospital. Kick counts and activity is good reassurance however that baby is doing well.

The NST from my understanding is to check for 1. contractions and 2. the acceleration or decelerations in the babies heart rate based on movement. Every time the baby moves the heart rate should increase anywhere from 15-20 beats per minute higher than the base line heart rate. What is called a reactive NST.

Hope this helps. I do know if you do an online search there are specific reasons for NST's (examples are IUGR, GD, Low AFI, etc)

Good Luck and Best Wishes
Jessica aka RareEndo

03-18-2005, 04:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
cicon Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: boston Posts: 247	non stress test? Hi everyone I'm now 31 wks pregnant and am wondering how many of you have had non stress tests and how often, and at how many wks. I am a "high risk" in that I've had several miscarriages, have an incomp. cervix, and am on a daily blood thinner (Lovenox) due to an inherited clotting disorder. My OB thinks there is no need for non stress tests while I have heard of high risk people getting them weekly. Any insight as to the benefits to doing the test as well as your knowledge of them would be great. I'm having a hard time convincing my Dr. Thanks Cynthia

03-18-2005, 05:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Blondie8 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Swimming in a sea of Smarties Posts: 2,808	Hello, I started once weekly NST's at 33 wks, I'm now 36 wks. I have the same conditions as you in addition to previous PTL and a second trimester loss and a sac leak and gestational diabetes in this pregnancy. In discussing it with my Peri I was recommended to have NST's due to the Heparin and Gest DM therefore Insulin mix I'm taking. I don't know if she would have recommended an NST if I did not have the Gest DM in addition to the other conditions. Either way, NST's are not hugely helpful in that they solely measure the "stress" level of the baby at that particular moment. During my first NST we were monitored for 30 mins, now it's 20 mins. Some health professionals don't feel that they are of particular value (I guess your OB is one of them) and apparently the old "kick" measurements tracking (which I also do daily) are of at least the same statistical value in diagnosing problems as NST's. My Peri wanted me to do both and she was empathatic I do the daily monitoring and inform her immediately if there were any sudden or gradual "down" trends. In all honestly I find the daily 1 hour home monitoring I'm doing more emotionally comforting than the NST, though the one thing that the NST has provided me with is a sense of contractions, as I haven't felt anything. But really, that's about it... __________________ Keep Calm and Carry On Slogan printed on posters in 1939 by the UK government

03-18-2005, 06:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Catherine0404 Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Washington DC Posts: 413	Starting at 28 weeks I started getting a series of weekly tests that my peri said I should have (measuring my fluid levels etc.). One of the tests is the NST but the tech's said they could not perform that until I am 32 weeks and they also said since I am having twins, that test may take up to an hour to complete. I too am considered high risk and am now a little over 30 weeks! Good luck. __________________ XXOO, Catherine 6th IVF was the charm Mom to twins Jackson and Emily

03-18-2005, 07:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
cicon Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: boston Posts: 247	DEE - question Hi there Can you (or someone) pls. tell me how to do the home monitoring? I assume this is the KICK test??? What are you supposed to do - count the number of kicks per hour? How many times a day? What is a "good" number of kicks? Thanks Cynthia

03-18-2005, 08:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Blondie8 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Swimming in a sea of Smarties Posts: 2,808	Cynthia I can scan the paper and send you a copy if you'd like. It's a two page info sheet (1 being info and 1 a graph) and it's important to know about what's a "kick" and what's a "roll" and other some info. If you have PM priviledges please PM me your email and I'll scan it and send it to you tomorrow as a pdf. It's important to try to do it at the same time each day. I have a couple of different versions of the same chart as I've copied some out of books also. The minimum is 10 movements per hour but baby's in utero can sleep up to 90 mins at a time. __________________ Keep Calm and Carry On Slogan printed on posters in 1939 by the UK government Last edited by DeeR; 03-18-2005 at 08:09 PM.

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03-18-2005, 08:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
cicon Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: boston Posts: 247	TO DEE HI Dee Thanks for offering your information - I appreciate it. My OB seems very laid back about the issue of kicks. My placenta is in the front which makes it harder for me to feel kicks. I hope what you're sending will still apply to me (?)....in any case I would like to see it. I didn't realize rolls vs. kicks are important to differentiate. For what reason? I'm not sure what PM means (sorry!) Is that personal email? Do you want me to send you my address? Thanks Cynthia

03-18-2005, 08:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
cicon Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: boston Posts: 247	TO DEE HI Dee Thanks for offering your information - I appreciate it. My OB seems very laid back about the issue of kicks. My placenta is in the front which makes it harder for me to feel kicks. I hope what you're sending will still apply to me (?)....in any case I would like to see it. I didn't realize rolls vs. kicks are important to differentiate. For what reason? I'm not sure what PM means (sorry!) Is that personal email? Do you want me to send you my address? Thanks Cynthia

03-21-2005, 11:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
Blondie8 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Swimming in a sea of Smarties Posts: 2,808	Sorry about the delay Cynthia. Busy couple of days. PM is personal message, if you can use the personal message option on FT please send me your email address. If you don't have PM priviledges you need to post your email address so I can get this info sheet to you. Whatever you're more comfortable with is fine with me. The info sheet is quite detailed and explains how to individually count movements when you're feeling all sorts of different sensations. __________________ Keep Calm and Carry On Slogan printed on posters in 1939 by the UK government

03-30-2005, 06:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
RareEndo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2	Hi, I started my NST at 31 weeks and get them twice weekly. I also have a weekly U/S. The reasons for my NST is my baby is IUGR (small) and at 31 weeks was found to have low amniotic fluid (thankfully it is back up due to bed rest and lots of water) The NST isn't necessarily doing kick counts, I do have to do kick counts at home twice daily but that is in addition to the NST's at the hospital. Kick counts and activity is good reassurance however that baby is doing well. The NST from my understanding is to check for 1. contractions and 2. the acceleration or decelerations in the babies heart rate based on movement. Every time the baby moves the heart rate should increase anywhere from 15-20 beats per minute higher than the base line heart rate. What is called a reactive NST. Hope this helps. I do know if you do an online search there are specific reasons for NST's (examples are IUGR, GD, Low AFI, etc) Good Luck and Best Wishes Jessica aka RareEndo

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