My first NST**

Mommyof4girls

What do they do?

Ive been monitored before for contractions. Is it the same thing? Do they give you anything to give you contractions? If they do Im afraid Ill go into labor. Im 32 wks tomorrow and Im already 3 cm dilated. Im having twins and they have a slight case of ttts. Kinda nervous.... Do I have any reason to be?

kayleigh27

Its the same thing..They just hook you up to a monitor with two little 'monitors' on your belly with Little stretchy belts. It doesn't hurt but the babies move like crazy. I guess they don't like it. It just measures how many times they move and if they're in any distress (I think) but it just lasts for like 20 minutes..I have to get one everytime I go to the ob now due to pre ecclampsia

BkE913

I have been having them twice a week since I was 26 weeks or so, I am now 38 weeks + and have my last one tomorrow, yay!

Anyways, they don't do anything to make yoh contract, that would be crazy! They just slap the fetal heart monitors on you as well as another monitor that will pick up any contractions you're having. You sit there and relax for 20-30 minutes. It's quite peaceful to have that time to sit and just listen to the babies heartbeat(s), it gives you peace of mind and is soothing. (If you ask me.)

Mommyof4girls

@Kayleigh27
@Bke913
Thank you so much! I research a ton of stuff and for some reason someone said they were given something to induce contractions... I was thinking they were crazy but you never know Drs are weird. Thank you for some reassurance!! I appreciate it.

LillieBug

If the baby isn't very active they will have u drink ice water thats it

LillieBug

Oh yeah they also have a buzzer thing they use to wake the baby up. Just really mild vibrations. U can hardly feel it. My first was super shy and always had to be buzzed a few times. I was also the only one to ever feel her move bc she would stop when anyone else touched my belly. This one is the opposite and tried to kick at the monitor.

Mommyof4girls

@lilliebug
They rescheduled for tomorrow. Thank you. These little ladies are so active they'll prob try to kick the monitors off too. They kick almost constantly. Im thinking Im going to have them in about 3-4 wks. I contract at least once an hour. More depending on my activity level. Im on pelvic rest. My other pregnacies I was put on bed rest. My Dr is a little more liberal this time, because I didn't deliver early either time. I think Im just one of those people who are in that prelabor stage for like 2 months. It really stinks! Esp cause im very wide in my hip area and the babies settle really low, really early.

LillieBug

@Mommyof4girls I know how it feels thinking u r going into labor way early. I have been having regular contractions nightly for hours at a time since 32 weeks. Im just glad they aren't strong! I was also dilated 3cm by my 36 wk appt. I had missed my 34 wk appt so who knows how long I have been 3 cm. Hopefully when I go in this week (37wk appt) I will be even more. My dr has not been concerned about any of it bc she said it is all due to the fact that I just delivered my last 14mo ago. Im not a fan of feeling like labor could start any min bc I feel like I can't even make plans a day in advance.

Mommyof4girls

@Lilliebug
Ive been 3cm since I was 28 wks... Im also about 50% effaced. The lower baby is at -1.
The stupid test hurt so bad! I had a contraction every 3-5 min w those things attached. Im going to tell my Dr Im not doing the NST again. They can just do the ultrasound from now on! My belly is still sore from the 2 heartbeat monitors and the toco. I was almost in tears from the pain! And Ive had 2 drug free births! Im so annoyed. It was so unnecessary. They just need to do the u/s to check the babies size. One of these times Im going to go into labor from it. I have contractions constantly too. My Dr said anytime after today he won't stop my labor. The hospital won't before he gets there either. I've got about 3-4 wks left. These twins aren't going to hang out much longer.