Contraction stress test

So, imagine your mommy is pregnant and the doctor wants to make sure that everything is okay with the baby inside her tummy. The contraction stress test helps the doctor see if the baby is getting enough oxygen from mommy's placenta.

During the test, mommy lies down and a belt is put around her tummy to measure her contractions. Do you know what a contraction is? It's when the muscles in mommy's tummy squeeze really tight and then relax.

The doctor may give mommy a special medicine that can make her contractions stronger and more frequent. This helps the doctor see how the baby reacts to stress, just like when you might get stressed and your heart beats faster or you start breathing faster.

During the test, the baby's heartbeat is also monitored using a special machine. If the baby's heartbeat stays steady and strong, that means they are getting enough oxygen. But if the baby's heartbeat gets slow or irregular, it may mean they need to be born soon so they can get the help they need.

That's why the contraction stress test is important - to make sure the baby is healthy and happy in mommy's tummy!