What it means
A test of the baby's well-being, usually done in the third trimester. A monitor strapped to the pregnant client's abdomen records the fetal heart rate while the client notes each movement. "Nonstress" means nothing is done to stress the baby, unlike a contraction stress test. A reactive result shows the heart rate rising by a set amount with movement; a nonreactive result leads to more testing, such as a biophysical profile.
For the nurse
Position the client in a semi-Fowler or side-lying position to avoid pressure on the large blood vessels. If the baby seems asleep, a snack, a change of position or a sound device may be used to wake it.
At a glance
| Also written | non-stress test, NST |
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Related terms
fetal heart rate monitoring
Checking a fetus's heart rate during pregnancy or labor, with a handheld device or a continuous electronic monitor.