How to politely decline NST?
I’m 36 weeks and 5 days pregnant with my 3rd baby. I’ve had a pretty smooth pregnancy. My other pregnancies were fine too, but I’m definitely healthiest this time around! I’m just getting so tired of fighting against this doctor who is treating my pregnancy like an illness that needs treatment and monitoring.
I’m 38 years old so my OB has been really pushing for extra monitoring/intervention/prevention of every possible outcome, which I understand is her job in caring for me, but she continues to site “you’re 38” as my only reason for any of it.
My blood pressure has been excellent, my weight is healthy, baby moves a lot and has looked great at every ultrasound. I opted to monitor my blood sugar for 2 weeks when they said my baby looks too big and they suspected GD. My numbers were “perfect” as she said (my other 2 babies were also measuring huge in ultrasounds, but were both born a little over 8lbs.) no preeclampsia, no hypertension, no early signs of labor, I’m seriously feeling fine and just pregnant lol.
During my last appointment my doctor said she is going to start scheduling me twice a week Non-stress tests until the baby is born. I didn’t know what that was so I said sure, but to my understanding it’s quite invasive and unnecessary unless I have specific risk factors. I’m not late term, my baby is moving great, and they want to inject me with pitocin twice a week and watch how my baby reacts?? It’s so strange to me.
I GET that interventions are important for high risk patients, and I’m so happy women can get the care they need, but does anyone else feel bullied into this stuff? If I had actual symptoms and risks and wasn’t just being told “you’re 38” as the reason I’d be open to it, but it’s exhausting. I guess what I’m asking is if any of you have been in a similar position where you were able to politely explain to your doctor you don’t want NST’s and they understood?
When I was 31 and 35 and pregnant I didn’t have to deal with any of this and my babies were born at 41 and 40 weeks and we were all healthy. This whole “advanced maternal age” thing is so silly to me.