NSTs and growth u/s?

[FastHands]

I've seen a lot of you mention both NSTs and growth u/s. Is this part of your routine care at your practice, or just if something comes up and they want to investigate further?

[megkat]

At my OB's, they only do growth ultrasounds if they suspect baby is measuring large or small. I got sent for one at 36 weeks because my fundal height measurement was high and my dr suspected she might be measuring ahead

I never had an NST- they're not routine at my dr, and there was never any cause for one

[MrsDarcy]

I've not had a NST with either pregnancy. My practice does, however, do a routine growth ultrasound at 36 weeks. My friend's practice, also here in the same city, does not, so it's definitely practice/MD specific.

[blushing]

Different system here, but I just looked up an NST. We only have one if the baby's movements are reduced or if there is another problem, like a spike in blood pressure. They did that when I was sent to the hospital when pg with DS and my BP would go high. I have had one NST this pregnancy so far and that was after telling my midwife that baby had been quieter than usual for a week. They only do NST's from 28 weeks onwards here.

The growth scans are only done if there is a problem. This time I have not needed one, last time they did one at 37 weeks because of my BP problems. DS was expected to be small and then at the scan I was told he was big, at least 9lbs already. He was born 2 weeks later and weighed 8lbs on the dot.

[statlerwaldorf]

I had growth ultrasounds because I had gestational diabetes and NSTs because I had increased fluid on a growth ultrasound and because I went overdue.

With my first pregnancy, I never had growth ultrasounds and had NSTs because I had cholestasis.

[jewel]

I'm 33 weeks, and neither has been mentioned to me yet. I have all of my appointments scheduled through my due date, so I'm pretty sure I'd have one on the books, if it were routine.

I've heard that the NSTs might start on/after your due date, to make sure that the baby is still doing ok, but I can't remember if I read that here or heard about it at the doctor's office. LOL.

[scribellesam]

I had an NST a few days after my due date with DS1, just to make sure he was doing okay and had enough fluid. I'll have a growth ultrasound at 36w with this baby (never had one with DS1) because DS1 was unusually large. Neither are routine at my OB's practice.

[awick14]

Here NST or growth u/s are not normal unless you are over 40 weeks, or something seems off during the pregnancy. (limited movement, measurements off etc.)

[eav2c]

I had NSTs and growth checks because I was high risk with cholestatsis. They normally won't do these unless there is a necessity.

[specialk]

I will be getting monthly growth scans because of my blood pressure issues starting at 24ish weeks.

[MamaMaui24]

I think my practice does a routine growth U/S at 36 weeks and then NST if you go over 40w.

[picksthemusic]

I have them because DD had undiagnosed IUGR at birth, and since I want to try for a VBAC, my OB wants to make sure we catch any suspicious growth or placenta/cord health issues so they can be caught early.

[starlily]

I had a growth scan after my GD diagnosis.

[Deleted]

Neither are routine. I'm in the UK under the NHS guidelines.

NSTs: I think you start getting them if you go past 41 weeks.

Growth ultrasound at 36 weeks: not routine.

I am getting one this time because I would like to have a home birth. They feel my previous babies have been on the large side (8lbs 4ozs and 9 lbs) and will exclude me from a home birth if the baby is measuring large.

[curbsideprophet]

I delivered at 38w4 days with both pregnancies. I have never had a growth u/s or NST. I think at my office NST start to become routine if you go past 40 weeks. I assume they do them before that if they think there is a problem, but I would not consider that routine.

I would question the need for a growth u/s in every pregnancy.

[vtdiamond]

I will be having monthly growth ultrasounds due to twins, I guess to make sure their growth is on track and one isn't growing bigger than the other. I have my first one this afternoon, not sure how much different from an a/s it will be.

[jorja]

I'll be getting biweekly growth scans starting at I believe 32 weeks? because of a cord concern (SUA), but I believe my doctor only does them once in the last month or so if there are no concerns.

[rbp]

I haven't had an NST, but my monthly growth scans were triggered by a high fundal height measurement. My practice doesn't normally do any u/s after the anatomy scan, but I get the impression that they have a low barrier for extra u/s.

[linz]

My Dr normally does an u/s at 12, 20 & 32 weeks.

I go in every 3-4 weeks right now and they check the growth of each baby every time.

[anaps28]

Back in NY they did a growth US at 36 weeks, now I'm in NC and they just told me they only do so if there are issues.

[aqualuv]

I've never had a NST. I will have a ultrasound on Thursday at 36 weeks, but only because they want to check the position of my placenta. I don't think I would have had another ultrasound after my 20 week anatomy scan if all was well.

[ringstrue]

Growth u/s at I think 32 weeks is standard at my doc.

NST for this office is only done if you go overdue. Then you go in every 3 days and do a NST. It's nothing, really. You sit with the monitor on you for 45 mins while you read a magazine (or GBCN) Then I think they also do a u/s to check fluid levels.

[thatgirl2478]

not sure about my current OB's office since this is the first baby I'm having with them, and at my old office (for DD1) I don't know what the general policy was, but I had the NST when I was past due significantly (1 week) before they decided to let me ride out the weekend & go for induction the following week.  I never had a growth ultrasound because my old OB said they were unreliable.

[Brie]

I never had either with my first pregnancy. My last ultrasound was my anatomy scan at 18w. There were no complications with the rest of my pregnancy, always measured on track or close to it. I was induced and delivered at 41w2d.

[jm1982]

I will be getting regular NSTs starting sometime after 30 weeks, because I have chronic hypertension. If not for the preexisting condition, I think they'd only do one if I went past 40 weeks.

[ngdgtco]

I had a NST because my Braxton-Hicks had ramped up; I think it was somewhere around 31 weeks. But I agree with everyone else, those and extra U/Ss are only used when something seems off or if you are overdue.

[rbp]

Jul 21, 2014 9:08:37 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

 I never had a growth ultrasound because my old OB said they were unreliable.

They are. I'm not really sure the point of them, but I have gotten some cute pictures of Baby Peppers' face!

[gerberdaisy]

I'm not sure what the standard is at my practice. I had a growth us at 32 weeks because my OB thought she was large, and they said I would have one at my next appointment (36w, but don't know if thats standard or due having one earlier, they just do it again.

Nothing has been mentioned about a NST (and only know what that is from being on here).

[lo]

My office does a NST on your due date as standard. My dd was on a Saturday, so I had it Friday.

They also do an ultrasound the day after your due date to check your placenta, fluid, etc.

[nabum]

The practice I'm with this time does a growth scan at 36w standard, but my last OB did not.

I have weekly NSTs throughout my
3rd Tri this time around but they are due to some complications.