Question about NST

Can someone please explain how the NST works? I have been having BH for about 13 wks now and lately they've gotten pretty intense at night, but I NEVER seem to have them when I'm hooked up to the NST machine at my OB's office. Then, the other day she was reading my print out from that day's test and said "only one contraction, that's good". I never felt a contraction when I was on the machine. Do the NST pick up BH, or just regular contractions, or both?? Just wondering how I had a contraction without feeling it when I feel the BH all the time. I know I should have asked my OB but my brain goes a little kooky every time I'm there!

 

The NST should pick up anytime your uterus is irritable, BH's/contractions alike. I was contracting every 2 minutes and felt aboslutely nothing so it is definitely possible not to feel all of them. Not sure if that answers your questions?

 

That happened to me too. They said if I didn't feel it that it was really mild. On another day I had a bunch that I didn't feel and they had me drink some water and the contractions stopped. I wouldn't worry about it, it's just one of those weird things I guess... Happens to me at every appt (2x a week)

 

QUOTE(Dianne @ Apr 14 2007, 03:43 PM) [snapback]219966[/snapback]
The NST should pick up anytime your uterus is irritable, BH's/contractions alike. I was contracting every 2 minutes and felt aboslutely nothing so it is definitely possible not to feel all of them. Not sure if that answers your questions?


I was in the hospital for two days being monitored this week and it only picked up a few contractions, 2 BH's I felt but those were after they told me I was having contractions. I never felt the first one, the nurse came in and told me to lay down and drink lots of water, I had no idea why until she told me they picked up some contractions. So its totally possible to not feel them at all. Also the monitor picked up when I had to pee, the bladder is below the uterus and when it filled up it irriated the uterus. Also anytime I got up to pee it registered a huge contraction even though I wasn't having one. Those things are very sensitive.

 

As far as the NST is will pick up any contractions or "tightenings" of the uterus. They can tell the difference between just uterine irritability and a contraction whether it be a BH or a real one. They look to make sure that the baby's heartrates aren't dropping during the contrax and they trace the babies HR to make sure they are rising and falling to show activity. At this point, keeping your bladder as empty as you can at all times is really important. Try to drink as much water as you can but empty your bladder as much as possible too because a full bladder will cause contractions. I have had lots of NST's because of pre-term labor. Hope that helps.

 

My doc wants me to start NST's this week and once a week therafter till delivery. Why? Is it that necessary?

 

I had one weekly at that time also. It is used to make sure the babies are reactive and not under any stress as well as to check for contractions. For the majority of multiple pregnancies it is standard procedure.

 

My coach mentioned to me that I should avoid doing much testing at this point because the closer that I get to my due date the sooner the hospital staff starts looking for reasons to induce or schedule a c-section and as long as I am ok and the babies remain ok ( please g-d that should last till the end) then there is no reason to induce or schedule a c-section

 

This was to soontobeamom, I just happened to read your question on here and I know all the testing sucks but there is a very good reason for it. If you are having contractions at all it is important to make sure that the babies are not in distress at all, sometimes babies heart rates drop during contractions. Also NST's are a very easy way to make sure that the babies ARE ok without having to do an u/s all the time. They want to see that the babies heart rates are rising and falling normally depending on their activity. The doctors and hospital staff want you to make it as far as you can, so when they decide to take babies early there is usually a pretty good reason for it. Good luck with you and your little ones!!!

 

I agree totally with Ericka. The doctors don't want to deliver babies until they have to. If they deliver too soon, you are more likely to have NICU time. And, remember, with a multiple pregnancy things can change very quickly. Plus, I don't think of an NST as a 'test'. It's more like a weird stethoscope listening to the heartbeats.

 

Totally normal...they do NSTs for any high risk pregnancy, inlcuding; multiples, gestational diabetes, etc. I have a NST once a week.