Stress Test During Pregnancy
What is a stress test during pregnancy? It is one of the methods to evaluate the health and well being of a developing fetus.
- It is a noninvasive test conducted to see how positively a fetus would respond to stimuli while he is still inside the womb or just before actual labor or delivery.
- Stress test during pregnancy is usually conducted at the end of pregnancy, just before the induction.
- This type of test measures the effect of stress or contractions to the heart rate of the fetus.
- To induce uterine contraction, a low-dose drug called Pitocin is injected to the mother.
- Nipple stimulation is also conducted to induce uterine contractions.
- The process is conducted by attaching two monitoring devices to the abdomen. One of the two devices measure’s the fetus’ heart rate while the other records the uterine stress.
- The result of the test is either pass or fail.
- If the fetus passes, delivery weather natural, caesarean, or induced will follow.
Non-Stress Test During Pregnancy
- Non stress test during pregnancy is usually conducted within the last trimester of pregnancy.
- This non-penetrative test aims to measure the fetus’ heartbeat based on ultrasound and the movements of the fetus inside the womb as observed by the mother.
- Is usually conducted on high-risk pregnancy cases.
- The process normally takes from 15 to 45 minutes.
- The test’s result is reactive or nonreactive.