month 7 BY YOLANDI NORTH THE S TEST WHEN YOUR DOCTOR ADVISES YOU
TO HAVE A NONSTRESS TEST, MAKE SURE
THAT YOU ARE INFORMED BEFORE YOU
PANIC 92 YOUR PREGNANCY
ometimes gynaecologists order tests that you have never heard of before. You are in too much shock to ask questions. Panicked, you start to Google when you get home and your heart skips a beat. A nonstress test (NST) is a common prenatal test done in the third trimester and the actual test is generally no reason to panic.
WHAT IS A NONSTRESS TEST?
Living up to its name, the NST is not meant to cause any stress to mom or her unborn baby. It is a non-invasive test and therefore does not cause any discomfort or pose a physical risk. “It is a safe test and cannot cause harm to the unborn baby,” says Dr Jana Rossouw, specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at Tygerberg Hospital. No matter how many nonstress tests you do, it remains harmless. “It’s done with a cardiotocograph (a machine that
interprets your unborn
baby’s heart),” says Dr Rossouw. The NST essentially assesses your baby’s condition by recording what she is doing naturally. It measures foetal heart rate and movement, as well as uterine activity to ensure that there is no foetal distress. It can be done from 24 weeks of pregnancy, but it is essentially a third trimester test. An NST picks up changes in your baby’s heart rhythm. It monitors when your baby goes from resting to active, or how your baby is reacting during contractions if you are in labour. Just like
yours, baby’s heart should beat faster when she is active. The NST can reassure you that baby is healthy and getting enough oxygen. If your doctor suggests another nonstress test or further
SHOULDEXPECT WHATYOU
testing, ask what the implications are and try not to panic. One abnormal result does not mean that there will necessarily be something wrong with your unborn miracle. She might not move during the test because she is fast asleep, which means that the test will not measure sufficient movement.
The goal of the test is to provide information about your baby’s oxygen supply by checking the heart rate and how it reacts to movement
WHO IS CONSIDERED FOR A NONSTRESS TEST? Your doctor may suggest a nonstress test if your baby seems to be moving less than usual. It will all depend on your unique situation and it might need to get done weekly or twice weekly. Your baby’s heart rate will increase when she is active (this occurs later in your pregnancy). There are a number of conditions that will interfere with this. Women who are considered for an NST are often those with high risk pregnancies. Possible reasons to have the test done include: Reduced foetal movements. A history of pregnancy loss. A multiple pregnancy with complications.
Abnormal placenta function. Maternal disease (like diabetes, high blood pressure, lupus, thyroid disease, heart disease).
Post term pregnancies (that have extended two weeks past the due date). Possible foetal growth problems. Too much or too little amniotic fluid. Preeclampsia.
The nesting period should be kicking in for you around this time. This is when preparing your home for baby’s arrival turns into an instinctual drive. Shopping for your baby will help you bond with your baby. Take your partner along with you, and it will help them nest too.
YOUR BODY AND BABY
HOLLY AND JACK COT R3 280
www.hollyandjack.co.za
Nesting time
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