What to expect at BPP?

jen5-03 · August 2009

My OB mentioned last time that I'll be having a biophysical profile next time (my appt is still over a week away).

He was very casual about it, just said it's an u/s where they measure amniotic fluid.

But now I'm reading that it's usually combined with a NST and my OB didn't say anything about that. And it doesn't sound like it's usually done without thinking something is wrong... granted I have GD and last pg I had PIH, but I guess I just still in denial about being at high risk.

So, does it take long? (This is mostly for DH, he's trying to figure out if he should come along). Anything I should know before I go? Tell me about yours.

cll · August 2009

I assume your doc wants to do it because you are high risk. The BPP u/s looks at your amniotic fluid, baby's movement, baby's tone and breathing. The tech needs to see all of this within a half hour. The u/s is worth 8 points (2 for each). So if your baby is not practicing breathing, you will get 6 out of 8 for the u/s. The NST is also allocated two points. If they do not see all of this within the half hour, they may or may not send you to L&D for additional monitoring. Don't be alarmed if the tech does not see everything they need to during the half hour. It does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Remember there are some times during the day that the baby is less active than at other times and the baby does not always practice breathing. If your DH wants to go, that is fine for piece of mind. I was in the hospital for almost a month and had one everyday so he couldn't be there for everyone of them. GL!

rebeccaontherocks · August 2009

I have them twice a week for my GD. It is just how my OB's office treats GD patients.

You will have a brief ultrasound checking muscle tone, movement, measuring amniotic fluid, and also checking to see if the baby is practicing the motions of breathing. Each area gets a maximum score of 2 points

Then you will be hooked up to a fetal monitor to watch the baby's heart rate. This also gets a maximum score of 2 points.

I find that if I eat right before I go in, it helps the test go quicker, because the baby is more active after I eat

My husband has not gone to any of mine yet, but since I go twice a week, I just text him with the baby's "score". Which is usually 10/10.

They are probably doing it because of the GD, from what I understand at from my u/s tech GD patients can sometimes have elevated amniotic fluid and they like to keep an eye on it.

fraggs24 · August 2009

I get a BPP weekly - and my husband chooses to go to these appointments rather than the midwife check-ups because he gets to see the baby's little face! This morning the whole thing took 10 minutes total. I always eat about 30 minutes before I go - and have a tiny amount of caffeine. The baby is awake and moving every time!

KelandNick · August 2009

I get a non stress test every tuesday and a BPP every Friday, not combined. My office stretches them out a few days so I never go more than 3 days without them checking on the baby.

Unlike some of the other posts, I've never been given a score on the BPP. The u/s tech just tells me when she sees him doing what he needs to and then she measures the fluid and I'm usually out of there within 25 minutes. Sometimes sooner if he's more active. My husband went with me for the first one, just because we hadn't seen the baby since 18 weeks. I'll get a growth u/s at 36 weeks and he'll come to that too.

Good luck!

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