The breast-stimulated contraction stress test.

ABSTRACT

A method was developed for using breast stimulation to induce uterine contractions for a contraction stress test (BSCST). Six hundred fifty-seven patients made 1,484 attempts with the BSCST and were successful in 1,072 trials (72.2%). A lower success rate was observed only in gestations less than or equal to 34 weeks. The distribution of test results (positive, negative, equivocal) by BSCST was unchanged from that of contraction stress tests performed with exogenous oxytocin (oxytocin challenge test [OCT]). The incidence of false-positive tests was similar to that in previous reports. The corrected perinatal mortality rate for the study population was 1.5 per 1,000 births. The time required for an adequate uterine response was 23.8 +/- 15.2 minutes, with 87.5% of patients responding in less than 30 minutes. The BSCST appears to be a reasonable alternative to the OCT, with elimination of the intravenous line and oxytocin administration and with a shorter testing time.