Non Stress Test

Over the last few days, Sea Monkey has been kind of lazy.  At first, I wasn't concerned.  We've had days before where he didn't move around a lot and then before I knew it, he was back to his active self. Well today I got concerned.  It was the first time since being able to feel him move around that I felt nothing.  So the nothingness combined with the last 3 days being lazy days for him started to get me a little worried.

Around 8:00 am I tried calling the doctor, but got the automated message that the office was closed and to stay on the line for the answering service.  I figured I'd wait.  They probably opened at 8:30.  So I tried again at 8:30.  Same message.  Ok, maybe they open at 9:00.  So I tried AGAIN at 9:00.  Same message!  This time I stayed on hold - "Is the office closed today or are they just not in yet?"  I guess I just wasn't patient enough because it was only 9:02 - and yes, the office was open.  I decided to call back later.  So finally just before 10 I got through.

I explained to the nurse what had been going on.  She advised me to drink some orange juice and see if I felt any movement within 20 minutes.  I rushed down to the cafeteria and got some juice and of course chugged it as fast as I could.  10 minutes passed.... nothing from Sea Monkey.  20 minutes passed.  Still nothing.  DAMN YOU SEA MONKEY!!!! MOVE!!!!  Finally, after 30 minutes I felt a kick.  Weak, but I felt it.  Then I felt another few kicks.  Again, not as strong as I would have liked but at least he moved a little bit for me.  

I ended up getting a little busy at work and didn't call the doctor back right away.  Just before lunch they called to check up on me.  I let her know I was able to feel a few movements but nothing again since drinking the juice.  The nurse wanted to discuss with the doctor if she wanted to do anything, and said she'd call me back in the afternoon.  Around 1:30, my doctor called me and said she'd like me to come into the office.  Ok, now I'm scared.  If the doctor wants me to come in, it must be bad right?  Ok, so now I totally can't concentrate at work and I just need to leave.  Good thing it's the end of the day on a Friday.

I got to the doctor's office around 2:30.  The secretary tells me Dr. Mahoney wants to do a NST.  "A what?".  "An NST.  You've never had one before?" "uhhhhh no."  So she tells me about the test a little and of course when I sit down to wait I immediately go to google.  Basically the test measures the fetal heart rate and to see if you're having contractions.

Here's the machine that does the test -

They strap these probes to your belly -

It took the nurse a while to find the heartbeat and I had to keep my hand on one of the monitors for a little while.  After a few minutes I was able to take my hand away.

Here's a video of the machine doing its thing.


And it prints all this fancy stuff on paper - the top line is Sea Monkey's heartbeat.  I have no idea what the second line measures.  I assume it's the strength of any contractions I was having .... which was none.... at least none that I could feel.

So all in all - EVERYTHING IS FINE!  My doctor is great though and said I did the right thing by calling and coming in.  She explained it like this - "It's like taking your car, that's been making a horrible noise for weeks, to the mechanic.  As soon as you get there, the noise goes away.  But better to be safe than sorry."  She made me feel so much better that I don't need to worry about Sea Monkey all weekend.

*phew*!

That's about all the excitement I can handle for a Friday night.  On deck tomorrow - Prenatal massage and a long overdue haircut.  One more week of 40 hours at work, then a long weekend to celebrate my graduation with my parents!  Oh, and I'm really excited about the 3D Ultrasound we scheduled for the 20th!