Having a healthy baby is the goal of every pregnancy. Some women need to have their babies watched more closely than others for various reasons. These reasons include such conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure, changes in baby's growth rate, changes in baby's movement and when a woman goes beyond her due date. It is important for these women to have a nonstress test.

What is a nonstress test?
A nonstress test is a safe, painless way to check on a baby's well-being before it is born. Two small monitors are placed on your abdomen and held in place using elastic belts. These are attached by cables to a larger machine, the electronic fetal monitor. One of these monitors records your contractions on some special paper, called a strip or tracing, while the other records your baby's heart rate. The test normally takes about 20 to 60 minutes. Occasionally, additional testing time is necessary. Your care givers will look at the baby's heart rate tracing to see how the baby is doing and to see if more testing is needed.

How can I prepare for the test?
You should empty your bladder so you will be more comfortable during the test. Also, it is best not to smoke for one to two hours before the test.

If you have additional questions, please ask your nurse.