Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Monitoring fetal movements is an essential component of antenatal care. The Non-Stress Test (NST) is a widely used method to assess fetal well-being. The impact of maternal meal intake on NST findings remains an area of interest.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effects of meals on fetal movements and NST findings, including baseline heart rate, number of accelerations, and heart rate increase per acceleration before and after breakfast.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 antenatal women with a period of gestation (POG) of 33 weeks or above, admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Participants underwent NST recordings before and after breakfast. The random maternal glucose level was also assessed to determine its effect on NST findings. The study employed a quantitative approach with consecutive sampling.
Results: The mean difference in fetal heart rate (FHR) between fasting and postprandial states was not statistically significant (p = 0.0532). However, baseline variability (p< 0.00001), number of accelerations (p< 0.00001), and fetal kicks (p< 0.00001) showed significant differences between fasting and postprandial states.
Conclusion: The study suggests that instructing patients to consume meals within two hours before an NST may improve test reactivity without the need for external stimulation, potentially reducing testing time and associated healthcare costs.