Contraction Stress Test: Results
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Results
A contraction stress test checks to see if your unborn baby (fetus) will stay healthy during the reduced oxygen levels that normally occur during contractions when you are in labor.
Results of the test tell your baby's health for 1 week. The test may need to be done more than once during your pregnancy.
| Normal: | Normal test results are called negative. Your baby's heart rate does not get lower (decelerate) and stay low after the contraction (late decelerations). Note: There may be a few times during the test when your baby's heart rate decelerates, but it doesn't stay low so it is not a problem. If three contractions occur during a 10-minute period of nipple stimulation or oxytocin infusion and there are no late decelerations in your baby's heart rate, your baby is expected to be able to tolerate the stress of labor. |
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| Abnormal: | Abnormal test results are called positive. A slower heart rate (late decelerations) that stays low after the contraction may mean that your baby will have problems during normal labor. It may also mean that your baby will develop problems if delivery is delayed. Contractions that last longer than 90 seconds and occur every few minutes are present. This is called hyperstimulation. |
| Last updated: | February 22, 2008 |
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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