What to Expect with a Pregnancy Non Stress Test

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A pregnancy non stress test is a simple and non-invasive procedure that monitors your baby’s movement, heart rate and responses to make sure there’s no signs of distress. It’s usually ordered if you have a high-risk pregnancy that may cause fetal distress or preterm birth. NST tests are also common past your due date or if you notice your baby is not moving as much as normal.

What to Expect with a Pregnancy Non Stress Test
When you arrive for your non stress test, you’ll either lean back on an exam table or sit in a chair. A nurse will attach a belt monitor around your belly with two monitors carefully positioned to pick up your child’s heart rate and uterine contractions. You’ll hold a small clicker device that you need to click every time you feel your baby move. This puts a small arrow on the heart rate readout so a nurse can check if the baby’s heart rate increases with its movements, as it should. A typical test lasts 20 to 40 minutes. You’ll get a reactive test if your baby’s heart rate is normal and he or she moves around plenty. A non-reactive test, on the other hand, means the baby may be in distress. Additional tests will be required to check for distress.