What is a nonstress test, and how is it different for a woman
carrying multiples? The nonstress test (NST) measures how
babies’ hearts respond to movement. (Just like yours, your
babies’ heart rates should speed up when they wiggle.) While
women carrying one child are rarely administered this test,
moms-to-be of multiples are very likely to undergo an NST, since
all multiple pregnancies are considered high risk. You’ll take
the test during the third trimester (as early as week 28), and
depending on how many babies you’re carrying and other clinical
factors, you may go back into your doctor’s office to do it a
few more times before you deliver. If your OB schedules you for
this test, take a potty break first -- it can last up to an
hour. You’ll be hooked up to devices that will measure the
babies’ heart rates, and to monitors that will record the
babies’ movements. If any of your babies are sleeping, the OB
may use a (totally safe!) buzzerlike instrument to wake ’em up.
If one or more of your babies doesn’t re