NSTs

Rachel asked for a description of NSTs, so here is a rundown.

The nurse puts two straps around or a belly band (they used the belly band at the hospital). Two monitors are used; they are basically just plastic discs of a few inches in diameter connected by wires to a machine. The first is placed high and measures uterine contractions, the second they use the ultrasound gel and aim for baby's heartbeat based on what we know of positioning of baby. The monitor plots on the same page both the baby's heartrate and uterine activity- think a printout like an ekg.

Increased heartrate indicates movement, so they are looking for a certain number of increases within a specified time. If the baby isn't showing movement, which is often the case with me because of the time of the test (too bad I couldn't do these at about 8 p.m.), they have me drink cold water (juice would be ok for non-gd situations) to get baby moving. After about 30 minutes, if the nurse thinks there has been sufficient movements (they usually make me go 45 minutes, at least, due to my sleepy baby) she will tear off the printout and bring it to an OB to review. Often, the monitor will not show the actual movements I feel, especially with the straps rather than the band because the baby's movement actually causes the monitor not to pick up the change in heartrate. Even if baby is not terribly cooperative with the accelerations in heartrate, it is reassuring to hear that thump-thump for so long.