Today's appointment

Well I had my OB appointment/US today and everything is still great. Each baby is about 4 pounds and are measuring only 1 ounce different. Baby A was not facing us, and we could see that she has a full head of hair. I can't believe I'm already carrying 8 pounds of baby and measuring 40 weeks. I'm going to be gigantic by the time I deliver. I asked my doctor and she said she will "think about" letting me deliver maybe one week earlier than she told me before, so possibly at 37 weeks but most likely 38 weeks. I told her I think my belly will explode by then but she assured me that will not happen. Also some more good news is I only gained 1 pound since my last appointment 2 weeks ago!! Hooray!! I think it's because I stopped working so I've been eating at home a lot more.
So I go back next Friday and the doctor said I will have a non stress test. I know people on here have NST's all the time and I was just wondering what is the point of them, like why do they do them? I asked the doctor what it is and she said it's to monitor the babies heart rate, but why? What are they trying to determine with a NST, does anyone know? She said it's monitoring like they do in the hospital, can you see the babies during a NST and how long does it last?

 

They usually last about 20 mins or so...they are checking for contractions as well as to see how the babies are holding up-they watch their heartrates to make sure there are no drastic changes and if you are having ocntractions to see how they do during that too. Hopefully you can just relax during them-some people on the forum have said they fall asleep-I just try to relax and stay comfy on the table...
The babies weights are great! I measured 40 weeks @ 30 weeks too-I can't imagine what I am at now-I feel so belly heavy and can't imagine what I will look like if I go to the end as well! Hang in there and enjoy being home!

 

I don't know about NST's but those sure are great weights. Way to go :clapping:

 

Same as pp for me, but I agree those are great weights and it sounds like you are going to have some healthy little ones! Good luck and enjoy this time!

 

how can they tell if you're having contractions with the NST? all i see on the monitor are the heartbeats...

 

QUOTE(ddancerd1 @ Sep 17 2007, 11:39 PM) [snapback]412324[/snapback]
how can they tell if you're having contractions with the NST? all i see on the monitor are the heartbeats...



If they want to check for contractions they will put on a 3rd belt (TOCO) that monitors them...so there are wires and belts everywhere!

 

QUOTE(dr802 @ Sep 18 2007, 05:47 AM) [snapback]412415[/snapback]
If they want to check for contractions they will put on a 3rd belt (TOCO) that monitors them...so there are wires and belts everywhere!





aaaah.... thanks!

 

From what my doctors told me, the NSTs are used to get an idea of the fluctuations of babies' heart rates. WHen I saw the perinatologist, they would do a biophysical profile on each of the babies. If either of them had "failed" that they told me they would send me to the hospital to have an NST. Fortunatley for us that didn't happen.

When you go to the OB, they only monitor the heart rate long enough to get a reading. Especially as you get further in your pregnancy, they will want to check on the babies' heart rates more frequently, as a gauge on how they are doing.

I could not see the babies while they did it. There were 3 monitors strapped to my belly, one for each of the babies and one to measure contractions. The nurse wasn't even in the room, I guess she was watching from a computer at the nurses station. I guess it will last until they are comfortable with what they see.

The only time I had them, was when I had to go to the ER because my blood pressure was up. The babies were always fine and my blood pressure would end up dropping to a level that they felt comfortable sending me home.

It sounds like you are doing a great job with those babies. Keep up the great work.

 

I do not know anything techincal, but I will say that the NST is a great test. We were having them 2x a week near the end and it is because of that test that they chose to deliver me 10 days earlier than planned.

As explained to me the test looks for 2 increases in heart rate that come down nicely. My daughter was not increasing and we could not get her to respond for over an hour. Finally they did my ultrasound and although she had a nice stable heart rate they couldn't get her to move. It turns out she was so cramped she could not move at all.

They deliver them a few hours later and they are both great. I am so thankful for the NST. I would have spent the next 10 days worried about my daughter.