NSTs and little fetal movement

ashbash4048 · May 2015

I am currently going biweekly for nsts. I am having to be on it because my son went from constant movement to barely any movement in a day. It usually takes 3 hours just for the test because my little one either doesn't want to have his heart beat tracked or he doesn't move.
Is anyone else having to do this or has done this before? I'm scared with how little he moves but the doctor thinks it's just his sleep schedule is different from mine. Please help! :S

KaLikeAWind · May 2015

I don't have any experience with this, sorry. But I wanted to wish you and your LO well.

47923ang · May 2015

Can you try scheduling your NSTs at different times of the day? Maybe LO is more active in the afternoon, for example.

I've had weekly NSTs for a month now. I've had one that took 35 min, but the rest have all been 2-3 hours. My problem isn't too little movement, though. My babes move so much that the monitors lose them frequently. Plus I've got twins, so it's doubly hard to keep them both in the right spot.

It's annoying to be there for so long!

HayesRN13 · May 2015

Just to clarify...it usually takes 3 hours to get a reactive NST?

dancegurl1118 · May 2015

Have the doctors expressed any concern to you Over this? Do they have you drink juice before the NST or lay on your side? 3 hours is an awfully long time to get a reactive NST, especially more that once.

princessbmw · May 2015

Agree with PPs. 3 hours is a ridiculously long time to complete an nst. I get them done weekly (Gd) and haven't had one that took more than an hour. And that was because they forgot about me on the machine! I'm surprised your doctors aren't more concerned.

sarahgracewedding · May 2015

I do Nst twice a week for my twins and have found that they will nap unlesssss I drink a big old iced sweet tea during the test. The ice and sugar get them to move and I'm done in like 30-40 min.

47923ang · May 2015

HayesRN13 said:
Just to clarify...it usually takes 3 hours to get a reactive NST?

You may be referring to OP; if so you can ignore my response here.

Mine have taken 2 hrs, 2 hrs 15, 3 hrs, 35 min, and 2 hrs 15.

The docs and nurses aren't concerned with the babies, they say they move so much the monitor loses the tracking and it takes them that long to get 20 minutes of continuous tracking.

ksimo6 · May 2015

My child sleeps through every NST test. They have to wake him up to get a good reading. Have they buzzed your belly? That usually sitrs this one enough to satisfy the docs.

tdotson0722 · May 2015

I'm having twins and I've been doing NST's for a month now. The longest it's taken is 40min. It's always good to eat beforehand and drink something cold.

OnWayto3 · May 2015

My LO has slowed down A LOT over the past few days. She had been incredibly active, but lately we've had a gigantic slow down. Her heart beat was slowed, too, but the doctor isn't so worried because it spiked back up (140 bpm) eventually. I don't have any great advice, but know you aren't alone-- for what's that worth.

mrsjones2014 · May 2015

My baby has failed all but one Nst. She just won't stay on the monitor. When that happens they just do an ultrasound right after to make sure she's ok. I'm doing weekly nst's and ultrasound and also going to high risk dr once a week. I do sometimes worry as sometimes she just doesn't move as much. But the doctors have reassured me she's just sleeping more plus the space is getting tight. Her hear rate is always normal and in range. Hugs to you

ashbash4048 · May 2015

They have given me apple juice, orange juice, made me lay on my side, and they have done the buzzing of my stomach. I wish it was because you was moving too much and was kicking off the monitors but sadly it's the very opposite. They finally did an ultrasound on Thursday. They said his head is right at my cervix and he is facing towards my spine, but even on the ultrasound she barely saw any movement. They finally let me go home after 3 because he at least moved his toes and opened and closed his fists.

eanorberg · May 2015

That sounds so scary, I'm sorry you are going through this and will be praying he was just having a lazy or stubborn day!

eeyoreem · May 2015

I also do weekly nsts for gd and I get a bpp too because I can only go 1x a week. My lo is so active I'm generally only on the monitor for 20 mins but my ds was not reactive and they often had a hard time keeping him on the monitor.

luckyrainbow · May 2015

I'm usually on the monitor for 20-30minutes I make sure I eat something right before I get to my appt and drink lots of water. I have NSTs twice a week for both GD and PIH.

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