So my first non-stress test last Friday actually was a little stressful for me, as previously mentioned. The office was disorganized, the nurse couldn't explain what the UA reading was all about, and they couldn't schedule me back into the office again right away, so I was stuck going to the hospital for my second test today.
I was dreading the hospital test but it actually turned out to be a much more pleasant experience than Friday's. They were organized, the facilities were new and nice. The staff and the other pregnant women were really friendly and kind. And the nurse who did the test knew what the UA reading was all about.
She said that they could do the non-stress test -- which just measures the baby's heart accelerations and decelerations -- without the UA reading. The UA reading was indeed a measure of uterine activity (thank you Avi). It measures contractions, but not very well.
For example, if the baby kicked at the particular spot where the monitor was sitting it would register as a big contraction. Or it might register my breathing as a contraction. Or if I moved in between contractions it would measure the first and second one very differently. Very skinny women tend to have readings that are off the scales while those of us who maybe have had a few too many cupcakes recently might not see such a strong reading.
In other words, the UA reading is all relative.
I preferred the hospital testing, too, because they worked off a baseline heart reading rather than requiring the baby's heart-rate to go up to 170 to count as an acceleration.
Separately, just seeing the hospital's new wing made me feel much better about delivering in an unfamiliar place. It felt good there.
Oh, I figured you would've done a tour already? For second timers at our place they do tours and sort of a quickie catch up prenatal class. Helps jog the memory!
Posted by: Aurelia | June 20, 2007 at 06:09 PM