Essential prenatal baby tests: Contraction Stress Test

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Essential prenatal baby tests Contraction Stress Test

Mothers undergo prenatal tests to check various conditions of their baby. These tests have one aim: to check the readiness of the unborn baby.

One such test is the contraction stress test or oxytocin challenge test. This is done to measure the baby’s heart rate during uterine contractions to ensure that the baby gets sufficient oxygen supply during labor.

Why is there a need for contraction stress tests?

In the middle of contractions, the flow of blood and oxygen to the placenta–which supplies the babies with oxygen–slows down temporarily. A healthy placenta has extra blood supply ready to provide babies with oxygen during this temporary downtime, thereby not slowing down babies’ heart rates during or after contractions. Other placentas may not be as capable of rising to the occasion, however. This results in insufficient oxygen supply–and therefore slower heart rate–for the baby.

Who must undergo this test?

The contraction stress test is for women with high-risk pregnancies. Before undergoing this test, it is best to have yourself diagnosed first of any complication suggesting a weak placenta. These tests are expensive and riskier than other prenatal tests, so it’s not a common procedure to check babies’ health. With regular check-ups with your doctor, however, you will eventually be informed if you would have to undergo the test before giving birth to your baby.

How will the procedure go about?

You will be asked not to ingest liquid for six to eight hours before your test. This is a precautionary measure just in case you would need to undergo an emergency Caesarian section, though there are very slim chances for the test to culminate in this.

Testers will monitor your babies’ heartbeat and at least three uterus contractions within a ten-minute period. The whole test usually takes two hours. Those who do not have contractions within the first 15 minutes will be given a dose of synthetic oxytocin to induce such.

The contraction stress test my also present many risks to babies and mothers, not least of which is overstimulation–just too much induced contractions that cut off blood flow to your babies, thereby resulting in a positive stress level. Premature labor is a natural offshoot of a positive contraction stress test. Because of these risks, doctors often do away with this test altogether and alternate it with biophysical profile or nonstress test instead.

If your babies don’t experience heartbeat slowdown during contractions, your babies’ stress level are normal.

If your baby’s heartbeat slows down, however, this means your baby must be under stress. Your doctor may, in these cases, recommend delivery right away via Caesarian section or by inducing labor.

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