NST- What to expect?

cedenton

So...I have my first ever NST tomorrow.  What should I expect? How long did yours take?

PaisleyRuth

Expect to sit back & be bored for about 30 minutes .  

I had 2 this pregnancy.  They just hook you up to the fetal monitor and leave you for a while, and you press a button every time you feel the baby move.  My first one, the baby was completely asleep I think - her heart rate was totally constant & she wasn't moving at all - so they gave me juice & goldfish crackers to try to wake her up .  That was the best part.

CJM20

They take about 20 minutes.  

They put 2 monitors on your belly and you get to recline in a really comfy chair. (maybe comfy,  mine was)

The top monitor is for contractions and the bottom is for the baby's heart rate.

They will monitor the heartrate to see spikes in the heart rate which is what they want.  You'll be listening to the heartbeat for all that time.

I do recommend bringing a book or something to read.

I had 2 already 

merricksmom

BORING....I had 4 of them and had to fight to stay awake. I usually brought a bottle of orange juice with me to drink so she'd be active during the test.

cedenton

Thanks, ladies!!