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3rd Trimester
ibis
member
NST is what exactly?
ibis
member
I'm scheduled for one next Friday and I know it involves fetal monitoring, ctx monitoring, and checking my fluid levels - does this mean u/s? My mom is coming into town from far away and I thought if there's going to be an u/s she might like to come.
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Re: NST is what exactly?
I have weekly NST's. It stands for non-stress test. Before my OB appointment I go in and they put a fetal monitor and contraction monitor on my belly. I sit there for 20-30 min and listen to his heart beat. Everytime I feel him move, I have to hit a button. Then the OB looks over a strip to make sure his heart beat is stable (no drops below baseline). The heart rate shoud also increase with movement.
It doesn't include US for me, although I get those at regular intervals too. Call and ask. The receptionist should know what your appointment involves because it changes how much time is slotted for the OB.
I get them twice weekly.
Once a week I get an u/s that includes a fluid check and a doppler to check blood flow from the cord to the baby/placenta to the baby.
Unlike a "fun" u/s the tech is looking for specific things so she doesn't normally pause to look around at what's going on in there.
But if you bring mom and it's your first they might show you some things. Mine usually points out the belly/top of the head/that sort of thing.
Then I go on the monitor--it's just like what you will have if you go into classic labor. Big elastic bands around you with two little contact things-one measures fetal heartbeat the other movement I believe.
They also give you a clicker and every time the baby moves/kicks you click it.
They want to see two heart accelerations from baby in a certain time period--mine are usually about 20 minutes long. These accelerations occur when he moves around.
It's pretty relaxing. I do mine in the perinatal and OB office and they hook me up in recliner chairs--so I just sit there and listen to that weird baby heart beat noise and it's sort of hypnotic.
But--on the flipside sort of boring. If mom comes you can talk to her and it will make time pass quickly. I usually do this part of the test alone because we have to bring my three-year-old and she gets bored so DH takes her into the lobby area.
If they're checking fluid levels I would assume you will have an u/s and they usually do that first.
Good luck! It's not as scary as I thought it would be. My LO does great even though he's super tiny.
Oh! And try to eat before hand and drink something like OJ or apple juice. They may give you some if baby isn't doing what they want--or ice water.
Something that will wake him up.
I usually eat a quick/light lunch and down some OJ or a soda beforehand and he performs the way they want him to.
He's not usually super active during the day and that's what they asked me to do.
Even if there is no ultrasound, I would invite your mom anyway. I had one on Friday and had I not been at the hospital where there was a tv I would have been bored out of my mind. At least you can chat w/your mom.
I was there for over an hour because they couldn't get the number of accelerations they were looking for. I think it's 2 in a 20 minute period. Finally after half an hour when they had gotten one, they gave me a gigantic thing of grape juice to drink and we finally got another one. They made me stay until they got a third. It took about 45 minutes to get the first two and another 15-20 to get the third.