Non stress test, Biophysical Profile - past due date. Had it? Having it?

Jennys9 · June 2014

Biophysical profile - who has had it and what was it like?

Did you have the non stress test and an ultrasound?

My due date is this Thursday, June 12, and my OB went ahead and scheduled the tests for next week if I don't have the baby. Has anyone else had one or has anyone else scheduled for one? Any story information, advice or personal experience is welcome.

Thanks & good luck to all the mamas who are expecting the rest of this month or who are taking the tests!!!

Lynnja616 · June 2014

I had an NST this a.m. You're hooked up to 2 monitors- one for fetal heartbeat and the other for contractions. They look at fetal response in heart rate to movement (ie baby moves and HR increases). That is to demonstrate an appropriate neuro to cardiac response (brain to heart) and thus that the placenta is still functioning as it should.

Mine took about 20-30 min. My OB came in to discuss during and after. NBD!

iris427 · June 2014

I had a few after I went past 40 weeks with my daughter. They are NBD--you just go and they do an ultrasound and hook you up to fetal monitors for a bit. I had to press a button everytime I felt the baby move too IIRC. Mine always went well. We induced at 41 weeks.

Jennys9 · June 2014

iris427 said:

I had a few after I went past 40 weeks with my daughter. They are NBD--you just go and they do an ultrasound and hook you up to fetal monitors for a bit. I had to press a button everytime I felt the baby move too IIRC. Mine always went well. We induced at 41 weeks.

Thanks. May I ask why they induced if the baby was doing well? I'm hoping we don't have to.

Knowing me I'll probably mess up when to hit the button! On the positive, I'm hoping it will feel reassuring to check on baby.

emfoxc · June 2014

I'm 2 days past EDD, have a regular appt today, and a planned NST for Thursday. She didn't mention anything about a BPP or ultrasound, so I'm very interested to hear if this is standard (perhaps I should request these this afternoon at my appt). What exactly do they do for the BPP?

MrsCase1 · June 2014

I have them every week and they're terribly boring. Add to that, mine have always been scheduled the same time of day, which happens to be during baby's sleep cycle so she doesn't cooperate much. There is a big fuss almost every time and I have had to drink my body weight in juice proving she is just fine. Sigh. Doesn't hurt or anything so it is pretty much a non-event. I would bring a magazine.

CrysW08 · June 2014

I'm a week past my due date & had the BPP (which is just an ultrasound) & NST yesterday. The BPP just checks on the baby's measurements & the placenta, your fluid levels, etc. For the NST, I didn't even have to press a button, just laid there! They're both pretty standard tests & a piece of cake.

ElTrain5 · June 2014

Jennys9 said:

iris427 said:

I had a few after I went past 40 weeks with my daughter. They are NBD--you just go and they do an ultrasound and hook you up to fetal monitors for a bit. I had to press a button everytime I felt the baby move too IIRC. Mine always went well. We induced at 41 weeks.
Thanks. May I ask why they induced if the baby was doing well? I'm hoping we don't have to.

Knowing me I'll probably mess up when to hit the button! On the positive, I'm hoping it will feel reassuring to check on baby.

Many providers err on the side of caution as pregnancy starts to approach the 42 week mark due to some increased risks (natural decrease in amniotic fluid, calcification of the placenta, etc.) It is possible to go further with careful monitoring, but I believe the majority of doctors/midwives recommend induction at or before 42 weeks, my midwives like to have you deliver at or within a few days of 42 weeks.

Jennys9 · June 2014

MrsCase1 said:

I have them every week and they're terribly boring. Add to that, mine have always been scheduled the same time of day, which happens to be during baby's sleep cycle so she doesn't cooperate much. There is a big fuss almost every time and I have had to drink my body weight in juice proving she is just fine. Sigh. Doesn't hurt or anything so it is pretty much a non-event. I would bring a magazine.

A magazine? I've been trying to look up how long this will take and it seems like I'll (or we'll) be there for a while. Am I to assume we should definitely carve this out as time off work? Fun day at the OB?

--My OB does start talking induction at 42 weeks, but not 41 unless the NST or BP don't go well. I've never had someone say their labor wasn't more painful with induction, so I'm really hoping the little guy is doing well in there.

So anyone have a time frame for all this or does it vary by offices?

MrsCase1 · June 2014

@Jennys9 This is all dependent on how cooperative your baby is. As I mentioned, my appointments were all scheduled during an apparent sleep cycle so they really had to work for it by giving me juice and snacks, etc. My actual NST only took 20 minutes or so on good days with my son but with this baby we are usually there at least an hour waiting around. The sonogram is pretty quick but that depends also on the aptitude of your tech, I feel.

MrsCase1 · June 2014

P.S. I would not drag my husband to an appointment like this. Seeing the baby is fun but many providers want you in a calm, quiet environment so chatting is discouraged and it would be boring for a DH to sit it out that long IMO.

CoUnTryBB1 · June 2014

I get a bpp every week since my fluid was high. They are less than ten minutes usually and so doesn't get to come since he has a new job but I do like getting to see baby every week.

Jenn111211 · June 2014

I'm in the same situation, due this Thursday the 12th. I have a Biophysical Profile scheduled for next Wednesday (but no NST). My doctor said that he would schedule me for an induction at the end of next week if she doesn't come on her own. He said they wouldn't let me go past 42 weeks because babies tend to have more problems past the 42 week mark.

iris427 · June 2014

Jennys9 said:

iris427 said:

I had a few after I went past 40 weeks with my daughter. They are NBD--you just go and they do an ultrasound and hook you up to fetal monitors for a bit. I had to press a button everytime I felt the baby move too IIRC. Mine always went well. We induced at 41 weeks.

Thanks. May I ask why they induced if the baby was doing well? I'm hoping we don't have to.

Knowing me I'll probably mess up when to hit the button! On the positive, I'm hoping it will feel reassuring to check on baby.

@jennys9 There are studies suggesting that inducing at 41 weeks has better outcomes than waiting longer--fewer cesareans, fewer cases of fetal distress, meconium aspiration, etc. I had a favorable cervix so we went ahead with it.

Jennys9 · June 2014

MrsCase1 said:

P.S. I would not drag my husband to an appointment like this. Seeing the baby is fun but many providers want you in a calm, quiet environment so chatting is discouraged and it would be boring for a DH to sit it out that long IMO.

Thanks. He wants to be there during any tests or most appointments, but he is rearranging his entire travel schedule each day. So if this is particularly long, I'd hate to use any of his pto when he's been saving it all for after baby arrives. Maybe I'll just go into labor on time & this will all be a moot point for me!

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Non stress test, Biophysical Profile - past due date. Had it? Having it?

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