Biophysical Profile

kaylab3910 · December 2015

I had my 36 week appointment yesterday. My husband came since we were going to discuss delivery options and any labor questions we had. My doctor said I was measure a little too big for 36 weeks and then took one look at me (all 4'11'' of me) and my husband (who is 6'1''). She said there is a chance the baby may be too big for me to deliver vaginally and that we may need to schedule a C-section. So she ordered a Biophysical Profile ultrasound which is now scheduled for Tuesday 12/22.

Anyone else have to have this ultrasound yet? If so, what should I expect? Was your baby measuring big and, if so, do you have a C-section scheduled?

RunnerMeg · December 2015

I had a couple of BPPs with DS1 (he was measuring large and postdate). During a BPP the ultrasound tech will look at baby's heart rate, breathing, movements, muscle tone and amniotic fluid level.

I did end up with a c/s, pushed for over 3 hours and DS never descended. But it wasn't scheduled. ACOG generally doesn't support scheduled c-sections for macrosomia alone.

Mommyduclos · December 2015

I get them regularly. They check baby's size, measure fluid, and check the baby for well being- movement, the practicing breathing, I don't remember what else, they also can check your cervix, umbilical dopplers, and heart rate- they do all the dopplers for me but I'm not sure if that's typical of a BPP or extra because my dopplers have been high on a couple occasions. It's hard cause u/s is the best we have for checking baby size but it's also notorious for being way off- even a pound or two here at the end.

PedsIsHardcore · December 2015

I get them weekly, but she should also measure your belly to make sure how accurate the ultrasound is. All ultrasounds are less accurate the further along you are. I just think she's pushing a C-section because she basically hasn't been keeping that close of track during your pregnancy.

Krisdee123 · December 2015

PedsIsHardcore said:
I get them weekly, but she should also measure your belly to make sure how accurate the ultrasound is. All ultrasounds are less accurate the further along you are. I just think she's pushing a C-section because she basically hasn't been keeping that close of track during your pregnancy.

Why would you say that? Is that your expert opinion based on what exactly?

mamakculb · December 2015

These situations drive me crazy. I'm 5'0'' and my DH is 6'3". He was also 9lbs 13oz and 23 inches long when he was born. I was measuring a big towards the end of my pregnancy, but gave birth to a 7lb5oz 20 inch boy vaginally. My cousin is about 5'2" and had two babies 10lbs+ vaginally, unmedicated.

Ultrasounds can be off especially towards the end of your pregnancy. The babies are so cramped in there it's hard to get accurate measurements for size. You may have a large baby, but that doesn't mean that you automatically have to have a c-section. You have a right to decide how YOU want to give birth. If you want to try vaginally first, then make sure your doctor knows. I hate to go against what a trained doctor says, but I am of the opinion that there are too many unnecessary C-sections done for babies that are "too big" for their moms. Your body has spent 9 months preparing for delivering this baby, and I would try vaginally first as long as there are no medical risks to your child besides assumed size.

Monilee1017 · December 2015

I had them weekly at 30 weeks for my boys and have been doing them biweekly for this one. They pretty much check flood level, position and measure all the different parts of baby, head, arms, legs etc. as well as look at the heart and other baby parts. Then they average out the measurements to see what the baby is. So at my last appt babies head as 2 weeks bigger, babies legs were week smaller, etc. in the end I was measuring 5 days over. They didnt change my due date or anything and it is just an estimate. They will give you weight for the baby but understand that these are an estimate and often wrong. (But I wasn't surprised about the head, both my boys were born with large heads)

ChrissyD1203 · December 2015

I have them every other week. They are easy. I don't know how reliable they are though as PP's have said - my doctor said they have a 15% variance in either direction.

carlyhammond · December 2015

Sooo are these kind of ultrasounds a normal thing in pregnancy?
Cause, the last one I had was a follow up to my anatomy scan.
Should I be asking for one?

Becky012016 · December 2015

Remember too that weight doesn't equal much in the grand scheme of things. For example, take 3 130lb women with different body shapes. One may be considered "large", one "average", and one "petite" yet they all weigh the same. What you really need to worry about is how large the head circumference is measuring and the width of the shoulders, not the weight of the baby.

Mommyduclos · December 2015

carlyhammond said:
Sooo are these kind of ultrasounds a normal thing in pregnancy?
Cause, the last one I had was a follow up to my anatomy scan.
Should I be asking for one?

No- they only tend to be done when Drs are concerned about something.

Wicked4589 · December 2015

I have them weekly because of excessive amniotic fluid. My little guy failed the first one but has passed the three since then. They just want to make sure movement and practice breathing is on point and that baby isn't having problems.

My doc is discussing scheduled csection because of baby size. Mostly his head. It's measuring very large and after an internal exam she doesn't think I'll be able to birth him because of my pelvis size. It doesn't necessarily have to do with the weight of baby but more likely the size of your pelvis compared to head size. What is better? To have a scheduled csection than to have baby go into distress when his head gets stuck in birth canal? When you have questions, ask your OB and question if you think anything is off. I trust my OB completely and know she has me and my baby's best interest in mind.

willashbaby · December 2015

I would never consider scheduling a c-section for "size", there's no way to know how big your baby will actually be or how much you can handle. No matter what I plan on attempting a vaginal birth, I would only allow a c-section if the vaginal birth fails. My husband's 4'11' tiny Mother pushed out all 9.6 giant lbs of him. You never know what your body is capable of until you try.

MissMheMhe · December 2015

I had one this past week at my 36 week appt. It's standard with my dr's practice. That said, keep in mind that when they tell you the size of baby, it could be a pound or more off in either direction. My baby was measuring 7lbs 13oz at 36w2d, but the tech had a really difficult time getting all the measurements, so this isn't really reliable. My dr isn't worried about our baby being big.
Good luck at your BPP!

kaylab3910 · December 2015

Thanks, everyone! Just to clarify, they have been measuring my belly since I was 28 weeks so this isn't a miscalculation or something that has overlooked. I have always been in the normal range, but this week my belly was measuring greater than normal for 36 weeks. And I think she saw the glaring height difference between my husband and myself and decided she'd rather be safe than sorry. I'm sure everything will be fine and unless she will be surprisingly huge, I will still push for a vaginal delivery. Thanks again.

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