The nonstress test (NST) is a noninvasive procedure that allows doctors to check the well-being and health of an unborn baby. This test will measure and record the baby’s heartbeat and check for contractions.
The NST is often performed if a patient feels that the baby is not moving as frequently as usual, for a high-risk pregnancy, or to assess the well-being of a baby who has not delivered by the due date.
If a NST is deemed necessary, we may start this testing around 28-32 weeks of pregnancy. Prior to 28 weeks, the baby is often not developed enough to allow us to interpret his or her well-being with the NST.