A nonstress test is a simple non-invasive procedure to determine fetal wellbeing.
The test uses an electronic fetal monitor to measure fetal heartbeat while you record fetal movements by pressing a button to mark a piece of paper and establish the health of your baby. It may be performed simply in your doctor's office or in the hospital's labor and delivery room.
The nonstress test uses an electronic fetal monitor placed on your abdomen to measure and record the fetal heart beat and if performed during labor and delivery any contractions. The operator will ask you, or a nurse, to take note of any fetal movements felt.
A normal (reactive) result displays increased fetal heart rate when the baby moves. An abnormal (nonreactive) result occurs when there is no increase in the fetal heart rate when the baby moves.
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Your doctor will recommend a nonstress test if a reduction in fetal movement is suspected. Other reasons for performing a nonstress test include a postterm pregnancy, suspected intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia or oligohydramniosA term used to describe a lack of or insufficient amniotic fluid within the amniotic sac.
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Your doctor will also perform a nonstress test if you have diabetes mellitus or your alphafetoprotein test results were high and no neural tube defectsAny of a group of congenital malformations that involve the skull and the spinal column. Most commonly it involves the failure of the neural tube to close properly during embryonic development.
High levels of alphafetoprotein in the amniotic fluid can reveal potential problems prenatally, and the fetus can be scanned using ultrasound. Immediate surgical repair is required.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. were detected.
There are few, if any, risks associated with this test.
If your doctor chooses to perform a nonstress test, it will take place sometime after week thirty. The test may be performed in your doctor's office or in hospital. The test is very simple and usually takes no more than forty five minutes to complete. The test will be repeated once or twice a week until your baby is delivered.
A nonstress test is not a conclusive test, and the results are only indicative of potential. If the nonstress test returns a normal result, there is a good chance your baby is healthy. Your doctor will continue to perform the nonstress test once or twice a week for as long as the test remains normal. It is very rare to have a stillbirth within seven days of having a normal nonstress test.
It is certainly possible that your baby may be asleep while the nonstress test is being performed. And for this reason, a nonreactive or abnormal test is not considered conclusive. If your doctor suspects that the baby is asleep, they will try to wake the baby by manipulating the uterus or stimulating the baby by other means. Some doctors use an artificial larynx is placed on your abdomen and turned on to 'wake' the baby.
If your doctor is concerned about a nonreactive test, other tests may be performed to confirm the results. These include a biophysical profile or the contraction stress test.
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