The primary purpose of an NST is to ensure your baby is healthy and getting enough oxygen. Your provider might recommend an NST if:

• You have a high-risk pregnancy (e.g., due to diabetes, high blood pressure, or other medical conditions).
• You’ve gone past your due date.
• You’ve noticed a decrease in your baby’s movement.
• You are carrying multiples (twins, triplets, etc.).

During the test, you’ll lie down comfortably. Two belts will be placed around your abdomen. One belt holds a sensor that measures your baby’s heart rate, and the other holds a sensor that detects uterine contractions.

The test typically lasts for about 20 to 40 minutes. The healthcare provider will be looking for the baby’s heart rate to increase when they move, which is a sign of good health.

• Reactive (Reassuring) Result: This is the desired outcome. It means your baby’s heart rate accelerated to a certain level above the baseline twice or more for at least 15 seconds each within a 20-minute window. A reactive result indicates that the baby is likely healthy and doing well.
• Non-Reactive (Non-Reassuring) Result: This means your baby’s heart rate did not meet the required level of acceleration. It doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong; the baby might simply be inactive or asleep. If the result is non-reactive, your provider will likely recommend further testing, such as a Biophysical Profile.