I know it stands for a Non Stress Test, but what does one consist of? Should I be looking forward to one soon? Does everyone prego with twins get them done??
Basically what it is, is that they put a fetal monitor for heart rates on both babies, and a contraction monitor on you to make sure that you aren't having them, and if you are to make sure they are small and spaced out. It also monitors the babies for active and inactive states. They havr to have so many heart accelerations and decels in a certain time frame to make sure they are active enough. I believe all twin mommies get the,, but it depends on your OB and the type of pregnancy you are having for how often you get them. I was monitored twice a week from 24 weeks until I delivered because I was on bedrest for PTL.
i only started getting them twice weekly after i was put on bedrest as well. they're usually done if you ever have to go into L&D for anything, or if they are wanting to monitor babies activity levels. it's pretty unusual to do them unless there's a need for closer monitoring of the babies, but as PP said all docs are different.
At 28 weeks, I started getting them everytime I had an appt. I had no complications, but it was just something my doctor wanted done because twins are considered high risk.
I had NSTs and never had any problems, they just did them at my OB appointments. I was never on bed rest or anything. I remember they told me I was having contractions during the test, but I couldn't feel it.
I had my first NST at 30 weeks... and ended up in L & D with PTL (I was unaware what a contraction felt like). After spending 4 days in the hospital with constant monitoring, I was able to go home on bed rest. I have had weekly testing ever since. At 35 weeks they started also measuring the fluid around the babies. I am now 37 weeks and unless I go into labor I will have another this week as well.
I've had weekly NST's since 28 weeks because I'm considered high risk - my baby died at 37.5 weeks 2 years ago and they never could determine a cause. The NST makes sure your placenta isn't breaking down, the babies are not in distress, heat rates are accelerating and decelerating appropriately and that they are moving enough during a specified period of time. They also monitor for contractions. It's nothing to be worried about - it actually gives me HUGE piece of mind each week when the babies pass with flying colors. I have my suspicions that my first baby died because of cord compression or some kind of fetal distress that they would have picked up with an NST, but I never had any reason to be given one during that pregnancy. Be glad you're going to get them, even if you're not having PTL or any issues. It's just another layer of security for your baby.
I had NSTs twice a week starting at 32 weeks due to my high blood pressure and being on modified bedrest. Since I never had any issues with the babies' activity or PTL, I actually enjoyed my NSTs since I just got to sit and listen to the babies' heartbeats for about a half an hour twice a week.
NST's were standard at my OB's office from 32 weeks...I started at 2 times a week and then as the weeks grew on, it went to three times a week. I usually had to get a u/s afterward because baby A's movement was not strong enough to be measured during the NST, so she usually had a u/s to check her movement and then they just always checked baby b too.
I never had them. My doc almost had me do one at 35 but then there was plenty of movement during an ultrasound and he was happy with that.
