For the past few weeks I’ve been going to the hospital twice a week for fetal non-stress tests. The nurses and doctors monitor the babies’ heartbeats, my blood pressure and contractions, and they occasionally draw blood and perform a quick ultrasound. It really is no big deal, and I’m in-and-out in about an hour. But, when my doctor first mentioned it I discreetly rolled my eyes: who’s got time for that?!

Turns out that I secretly LOVE going in for the NST. For one hour I have no choice but to lay down and relax. The room is cool and quiet. The comforting sound of my babies’ heartbeats plays as a soundtrack. Nurses pop in every now and then to check on me. It is glorious!

The hospital schedules NSTs throughout the day, so it is easy for me to make appointments that agree with my family’s routine. Once I had to bring Vivian and Ben along, and even these two active little kids enjoyed mom’s NST. Unfettered access to the iPad and cartoons is hard to argue with when you’re 2 and 4!

Considering the pre-term labor scare and the initial worries about twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and my “advanced maternal age” it is nice to know the girls are safe and healthy. A quiet hour to myself twice a week is good for me – and the girls!