ask you to begin this at about 32 weeks. It involves counting how long it takes for your baby to move 10 times. The count is done around the same time each day.

What it tells you. Every baby has a personality and a certain style of movement. Some babies are more active than others. This test allows the mother to focus on what is normal for her baby and to report if the baby’s pattern changes. Having the mother count her baby’s movements on a daily basis has been found in some studies to be a highly effective screening tool.

Non-Stress Test (NST) and Contraction Stress Test (CST)
What it measures. The non-stress test (NST) and the contraction stress test (CST) check for well-being by evaluating how the baby’s heart rate responds to movement (NST) or, if present, to contractions (CST).

What it tells you. These tests are usually used when the pregnancy goes past the due date, at about 41 weeks. Occasionally they may be initiated sooner if there are additional risk factors in the pregnancy. They are all designed to evaluate the well-being of the baby’s heart and autonomic system (brain), as well the functioning of the placenta.

Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI), Biophysical Profile (BPP)
What it measures. The amniotic fluid index (AFI) uses ultrasound to measure the fluid around the baby. The quantity of fluid is an indirect indicator of the functioning of the placenta and the baby’s body. The biophysical profile (BPP) also uses ultrasound and includes the NST and AFI, and checks for baby’s breathing movements, body movements, and body tone.

What it tells you. The tests, used in combination with one another, are very effective in verifying that all is well. In other words, a normal test is very reassuring. Abnormal tests, though, are less effective at predicting a problem. The NST and AFI are performed most often; the CST and BPP are used when there are abnormal results. In some cases, abnormal tests might point to the need to initiate labor by medical means rather than to wait for spontaneous labor to start.