re: Non stress tests

Quoting Vindictive:" Thanks. Much easier said than done!"

I know but its actually pretty reassuring.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Vindictive:</b>" I must have been in sync with your brave waves then, haha.  "</blockquote>




Oh yeah!

Is it Tuesday yet?

<blockquote><b>Quoting BrandyJ#3:</b>" I know but its actually pretty reassuring. "</blockquote>



Unless you've lost a pregnancy in the late stages of the game. Then nothing is reassuring longer than 5 minutes.

Quoting BrandyJ#3:" I know but its actually pretty reassuring. "

Here's to hoping, eh?

Quoting P Pickle Pants:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Vindictive:</b>" I must have been in sync with your brave waves then, haha.  "</blockquote> Oh yeah! Is it Tuesday yet?"

Do you get an utrasound Tuesday too?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Vindictive:</b>" Here's to hoping, eh?"</blockquote>



If only we could drink during pregnancy to help with the stress! I could sooooo go for a glass of wine and a bubble bath  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Vindictive:</b>" Do you get an utrasound Tuesday too?"</blockquote>




Yes. If they try to change their minds, I'm refusing to leave without one!

Quoting P Pickle Pants:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Vindictive:</b>" Here's to hoping, eh?"</blockquote> ... [snip!] ... If only we could drink during pregnancy to help with the stress! I could sooooo go for a glass of wine and a bubble bath  "

Girrrlll... tell me about it. My day has been awful. Noah's sprinkle is tomorrow and everything I cooked/baked for it today ended up ruined. Longest day of my life. I could have used a few margarita's.

Quoting P Pickle Pants:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Vindictive:</b>" Do you get an utrasound Tuesday too?"</blockquote> Yes. If they try to change their minds, I'm refusing to leave without one!"

Good! I'm keeping everything crossed, hoping you see a big beautiful heartbeat.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Vindictive:</b>" Good! I'm keeping everything crossed, hoping you see a big beautiful heartbeat."</blockquote>




Thanks!

Ugh, why can't time fly? Just a lil!!!

Quoting Vindictive:" The closer it gets to Mya's birthday, the more anxious and paranoid I am becoming. I start NSTs in two ... [snip!] ... but that's it. I just don't understand how they can tell if there is a problem based on such little monitoring.. kwim? Gah.  "

An NST can tell us a lot! I'm an OB service RN and we can tell if the baby is acidodic, cord okay, placenta okay, CNS system intact, etc.

they'll be monitoring the baseline heartrate, and they'll be looking for spikes
it's usually in 20 min increments, but can certainly go for an hour, or more
the way it was explained to me is
none of our heart rates are perfectly steady. everyone (adults, babies) go through cycles of rest and activity
they want to see activity in the heart rate. they want to see heartrate spiking, and sustaining the spike for a few beats (i don't remember exactly for how long)
basically, it's like if the baseline is 140, they want to see it spike to 160+, and stay @ 160+, for x number of seconds
if this happens, they consider it an "active" NST. basically, for a fetus to exhibit this pattern, everything has to be working well neurologically
there is air, there is blood flow, there is a well working brain & nervous system

if they don't get the spike, they keep you longer
if they still don't get the spike, they keep you even longer

not sure what happens if they STILL don't see a spike after two hours..

in my case, one of the babies heart rates started dropping, and they took 'em out at 32 weeks 3 days

Quoting Vindictive:" The closer it gets to Mya's birthday, the more anxious and paranoid I am becoming. I start NSTs in two ... [snip!] ... but that's it. I just don't understand how they can tell if there is a problem based on such little monitoring.. kwim? Gah.  "

They do not only watch for movement but they watch how the babies heart rate fluctuates when the baby moves. You can be there anywhere from 30 mins to hours depending on the baby. The heart rate has to go up so much with in a certain amount of time. Trust me I know it sounds crazy but it is well worth it in the end to know that they are keeping a close eye on the baby. I have been doing the NST's for 5 weeks now but I just keep telling myself it is what is best! I also enjoy hearing her heartbeat and movements it gives me reassurance that she is doing good (: Good luck but keep telling yourself it is well worth it in the end!

ive been doing NST's twice a week since i was 33 weeks along(now 37 weeks and 4days) and they moniter my babies heartrate and seeing if im having contraction usually takes 20 minutes for the test to go unless baby isnt being a big help