Tests with Stress under Contractions

This test is similar to a test without stress, except because the heartbeat of the baby is measured in relation with the uterine contractions. The contractions sometimes present themselves alone, but in these cases, they tend to be induced with stimulation of the nipples or a low dose of medication.

Do not stimulate your nipples at home too much as it could bring on contractions. This should only be done under supervision, because the doctor will need to do follow up and make sure the uterus does not contract too much.

It is important there are three good contractions in a period of ten minutes to be able to do the test. If the cardiac rhythm of the fetus does not descend after the contractions, the test

will be considered negative, and this supposes the baby will be fine for another week or so. If the test ends up being positive or suspicious, the doctor will investigate the situation more. The adequate way depends on your particular situation. A stress test is done with contractions if the results of the non stress test are not conclusive, or if the doctor wants to do more tests for the well being of the fetus.

This test should not be done under any circumstances if the mother has placenta previa or is at risk of pre term delivery.

Biophysical Profile
This is often times done instead of the non stress test to evaluate the well being of the fetus. Which test is to be done, the non stress test or biophysical profile is many times a matter of the preferences of the doctor.

The biophysical profile evaluates:

Fetal movement, observed with the sonogram
Fetal corporal tone, observed with the sonogram
Fetal respiratory movements, observed with the sonogram
Amount of amniotic liquid, observed with the sonogram
Non stress test

The baby gets two points for each parameter that is normal. A perfect score is ten. Babies that are scored with eight or above are considered fine. A six is probably not a motive to worry, but follow up tests are then advised. A score under six indicates the doctor needs to continue evaluating.

Vibroacoustic Stimulation
The doctor might do a vibroacoustic stimulation test during the non stress test, in which the response of the fetus is observed by sounds or vibrations. The doctor will make a special apparatus sound on top of the abdomen of the mother, so that these sounds or vibrations reach the fetus. Normally the heartbeat of the fetus increases with it is stimulated in this way. The vibroacoustic stimulation many times reduces the time necessary to do the non stress test, since it helps to perceive the accelerations of the cardiac rhythm. Many times it is done if the non stress test is not reactive after 20 or 30 minutes.

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