BPP vs. NST

atc282

I went in at 32 wks for a Non Stress Test (NST) and a checkup. Well, I went straight into an u/s room and the tech took some measurements, but didn't really say much. When I went into another room to wait for the peri, they said I didn't need a NST since I just passed my BPP (biophysical profile). I didn't even know that was what the u/s was for!?

So, what is the diff. between a NST and a BPP? What does each test check for or measure?

I go tomorrow for my 33 wk checkup and they mentioned I would be doing a NST. I should have asked when I was there last week but didn't. 

Any feedback is appreciated....thanks!!

3VIBride

Wow- I am exactly the same as you (32 weeks 6 days today with twin girls!), and the same thing happened to me last week at my 32 week appt! 

NST is a monitor that they put on your belly for an hour, to watch for contractions and track the babies heartbeats.  Basically the u/s tech said in my case, my babies were lying in such a way that the monitor for the non-stress test wouldn't be able to tell the difference between their two hearbeats.  So the ultrasound itself, checking their heartbeats, checking the mvp(maximum vertical pocket, a measurement of their amniotic fluid), and looking to see if they were practicing breathing was the BPP. 

Afterwards the doc said that everything they saw showed that the girls should be tolerating any contractions/braxton hicks just fine.  We're going to try again for the NST at my 33 week appt. tomorrow.

Temp159135562506975

i only had BPP's... never had a NST b/c everything was fine with my BPPs.

atc282

3VIBride:

NST is a monitor that they put on your belly for an hour, to watch for contractions and track the babies heartbeats.

Afterwards the doc said that everything they saw showed that the girls should be tolerating any contractions/braxton hicks just fine.  We're going to try again for the NST at my 33 week appt. tomorrow.

Thx! So, does the BPP monitor contractions then, too? Or is that just on a NST?? 

And if they passed the BPP, does that mean then that the contrax/ BH were within normal range or can they not tell that from the BPP??

mmbench

A BPP has nothing to do w/ contractions.  It's all about the babies, their blood flows, fluid, movement, etc.

I failed a BPP at 34w.  Lily wouldn't "breathe."  So the next step for a failed BPP is an NST.  There they're looking to monitor heartbeats for an extended period of time (rather than via an ultrasound).

She passed her NST, and they were getting ready to send me home when they discovered I was leaking amniotic fluid.  But the NST showed no contractions.

RoseWhite

Hi!

I'm exactly one week ahead but with boys

 Anyway, in my case they do the NSTs twice a week and if they fail then they do the BPPs.  I asked here before because I was also confused.  In the BPP they can't measure contractions and they can't see any "trends" in the heartbeats (this is what the Dr explained to me).  So for example, if one baby hd an irregular HB you may not see that on the u/s (BPP).

During the BPP they look for 3 things: movement, breathing and HB.  During the NST they look at how the HBs react when they move...if the babies are active and their HBs have peaks, then it's considered reactive and they pass.  They also measure the contractions..

 My boys have passed only one out of 4 NSTs so far...so it's very common for them to fail and that's when in my case they do the BPP.

I hope that helps!