What is a NST test and why is it important for pregnant women?

During pregnancy, you will definitely have to visit the clinic to see the doctor often and you will receive many examinations during pregnancy. You may have heard of an examination called a NST examination. Today, we will find the answer to what an NST examination is and why it is important for pregnant women.

What is a NST test?

NST or Non-stress test is a type of fetal health screening test that uses the measurement of the fetus’s heart rate while the baby moves to assess whether the baby is getting enough oxygen. This method is safe, painless, and stress-free for the mother and baby.

Why should pregnant women get a NST test?

The NST or Non-stress test has several benefits, including:

1. Assess the health of the fetus:

Helps to know if the baby is getting enough oxygen.
It is a screening for pregnancy complications such as slow fetal growth, low amniotic fluid, placental insufficiency, and chronic fetal hypoxia.

2. Monitor the health of high-risk fetuses:

Such as a small baby
Infants with pregnancy complications
Premature baby

3. Prepare before birth:

Assess the baby’s readiness before birth
Helps doctors decide which delivery method to use.

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For pregnant mothers in the following risk groups, they should have an NST test.

Pregnancy more than 32 weeks
Pregnancy with twins
There are complications of pregnancy such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease.
The baby has slow growth.
A mother with Rh-negative blood type but a fetus with Rh-positive blood type, which can lead to serious complications because the mother’s body will create antibodies to destroy the fetus’s red blood cells.
Low amniotic fluid
The baby moves less.
Have a history of premature birth
There was a case of a baby dying in the womb.

How is NST performed?

NST is a screening test for fetal health. It is generally performed at 32 weeks of pregnancy and involves the following steps:

The mother will have to lie on her back on the examination table.
The doctor or nurse will attach a fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor to your abdomen using two straps: one that measures uterine contractions and the other that measures the baby’s heart rate.
Mothers will be given a movement control device to press a button every time they feel the baby move.
The examination usually takes about 20-30 minutes.

Some mothers may experience minor discomfort, such as back pain, abdominal distension, and the baby may fall asleep during the examination. The doctor or nurse may use stimulating sounds or give the mother a sweet drink to wake the baby.

Pre-NST instructions

Inform your doctor or nurse if you take any medications, supplements, or herbs regularly.
Urinate completely before the examination.
Do not smoke at least 30 minutes before the examination.

Test results

If the test result is Reactive NST: The baby is healthy. The baby’s heart beats faster than 15 times per minute for 15 seconds at least 2 times within 20 minutes.
If the result is Non-reactive NST: This indicates that the baby may not be healthy. The baby’s heart may beat slowly or there may be no change in the heart rate during movement.

In case of Non-reactive NST test results, the doctor may consider additional tests such as CTG (Cardiotocography) or ultrasound.

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Precautions for NST (Non-stress test) examination

NST is generally safe and harmless to both mother and baby. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. The test results may be incorrect.

NST results may be false, positive or false negative.
Positive palsu means that the test results show that the baby is in poor health, but in fact the baby is healthy.
A false negative result means that the test result shows that the baby is healthy, but in fact the baby is not healthy.

2. NST examination cannot diagnose all pregnancy complications.

NST can help screen for some complications, but it cannot diagnose all of them.
The doctor may consider ordering additional tests, such as a CTG (Cardiotocography) test or an ultrasound.

3. NST test results may cause concern to mothers.

Positive palsy can make a mother worry that her baby is not healthy.
False negative results can lead mothers to believe their babies are healthy.

4. NST examination may take a long time.

The NST test usually takes about 20-30 minutes.
In some cases, it may take longer, depending on the baby’s movements.

As mentioned above, the NST test cannot diagnose all pregnancy complications. Your doctor may consider ordering additional tests. If you have any further questions, you should consult your doctor or nurse who is taking care of you for advice.

Republished with permission from theAsianParent Thailand