NST...what to expect?

tbirt24

I have an NST in the morning. The doc said I'd wear a monitor belt and it would take an hour or so.

So, am I going to be in a room? On a bed? How long will it take? Just wanting to know what to expect before we go. 

 

mrs_sherod

I had one at 39 weeks because LO was not moving much.  That one probably took about an hour because his hb was found, but he was still not moving.  They gave me some really sweet juice to drink.  I had another one at my 40 week appointment that took about 30 minutes because I hadn't eaten like all day.  The last one was at 41 weeks because LO hb was slow, just beefore my induction  All of them were bed/table as in the regular exam rooms.

mrs.oz

I get NST's twice a week.  Mine take 20 minutes and are done at my doctor's office.  They have a room that has reclining chairs like a La-Z-Boy.  They push the chair back to recline, put ultrasound gel on my stomach then  put two monitors on my stomach and secure them with velcro.  I sit there and read or watch the read out for 20 minutes while the baby kicks the crap out of the monitors.  After that I get a quick ultrasound to check my fluid levels and I'm out the door.

dionnemd10

drink something cold before you go--some oj maybe.   basically they check to see if baby is moving and how much.   if they get what they need early it won't take an hour.   if baby is sluggish it may take the hour.  really you just lay back (ask for a magazine) and the monitors go on your stomach and measure movements.   mine were just done at the clinic in a regular exam room.   i say drink oj because during one of mine baby wasn't moving a lot so they had me drink some cold juice which helped wake the little bugger up!

kristalovesjared

I've been having them twice a week. I sit in a recliner chair and luckily my LO is very active, so I'm usuall only there 20 minutes. They told me that they just need to see the baby being active and watch what it's heartrate does while it's moving.

K8skates

I just had one last week (and another scheduled for Monday...) they had me on one of the regular exam table/beds and strapped two monitors to my belly, one to monitor contractions and the other to monitor LO's heart beat, they gave me a buzzer type thing to press every time I felt the baby move and it recorded on the feed...took about 20 minutes, they did make sure I ate before hand so she would be active.  When I was laying on my back I didn't really feel her move all that much so they had me lay on my side and that did the trick...

zeptattoo

I've had them weekly for the past month.  They sit me in a recliner and strap a moniter to my belly to get a heart rate of LO.  They gave me a clicker and everytime he moves you click the button.  Its very easy!

kellygirl0515

I go in every week for my NSTs.  It's not anything crazy.  You're on a table type thing - it reclines.  You wear the belts (one to monitor you for contractions and one to monitor the LO)  Each time the LO moves you have to press a button.  They monitor LO's movement and the increase in heart rate activity.  Normally it takes about 20-30 mins depending on how active the LO is.  GL.  Kel

tbirt24

Thanks girls!