A contraction stress test is performed during pregnancy to check the strength of the unborn baby’s heart for labor. Medications or nipple stimulation are used to simulate contractions, and the test is recommended if the baby had abnormal results in other health tests. The test is performed in the last trimester, and the doctor monitors the fetal heartbeat during contractions. If the heartbeat slows down, the baby may need to be delivered by cesarean section.
A contraction stress test is a test performed during pregnancy to check if the unborn baby’s heart is strong enough to carry the labor. Use medications or nipple stimulation to temporarily contract the uterus in order to replicate labor contractions. The test is typically used only if the unborn baby had abnormal results during other pregnancy health tests.
Uterine contractions involve the muscles of the uterus tightening and relaxing at intervals, which helps push the fetus out of the body during labor. During these intervals, blood flow to the fetus is slightly reduced. As the blood contains the oxygen supply of the fetus, the fetus sags due to oxygen depletion during delivery. If the fetus has a healthy heart, it can usually survive on temporarily limited oxygen.
A contraction stress test is a means of simulating uterine contractions under the supervision of a doctor before labor occurs. If a doctor does an ultrasound and finds that the unborn baby has a weakened heartbeat, she may recommend the contraction stress test. It is generally performed during the last trimester of pregnancy, often around 34 weeks of gestation.
Oxytocin is a hormone that occurs naturally in the brains of both men and women and is responsible for feelings of pleasure during intimacy or bonding, ranging from hugging to orgasm. This hormone is released in larger quantities during the later stages of labor. A doctor will inject a pregnant woman with synthetic oxytocin to begin the stress test by monitoring the fetal heartbeat. The body will think it is in labor which will cause the uterus to start contracting. Nipple rubbing may also eventually release the hormone naturally to initiate contractions if the hormone does not cause contractions; however, it may be more difficult to control the amount of hormone using nipple stimulation. If there is too much of the hormone in the body during the test, it can start labor prematurely.
Once the uterus contracts at regular intervals of three times every ten minutes, the doctor will monitor the heartbeat of the fetus until the contractions stop naturally. Test results are considered safe and normal if your heart rate does not slow down during contractions. If the heartbeat slows down and stays slow during contractions, the fetus may not be able to survive on the reduced amounts of oxygen during labor. A fetus with abnormal contraction stress test results will generally need to be delivered by cesarean section, a surgery in which a doctor makes an incision in the woman’s abdomen and removes the baby.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
