biophysical profile testing

The Biophysical Profile (BPP) is a test that measures the health of your baby during pregnancy. A BPP test may include a nonstress test with electronic fetal heart monitoring and a fetal ultrasound. The BPP measures your baby's heart rate, muscle tone, movement, breathing, and the amount of amniotic fluid around your baby.

Here are the steps on how it is done:

1. Nonstress Test: This part of the BPP measures your baby's heart rate in response to its own movements. A healthy baby will have an increase in heart rate with each movement. You'll lie on your left side while monitors are strapped to your belly. These monitors measure your baby's heart rate and movements; this usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Ultrasound: This part of the BPP measures four physical signs of your baby's health: heart rate, breathing, body movements, and muscle tone. The ultrasound technician will watch your baby on the ultrasound screen and check whether these four signs are normal.

3. Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI): This is an estimate of the amount of amniotic fluid in your uterus. The technician will measure pockets of amniotic fluid during the ultrasound. Your baby needs a certain amount of amniotic fluid to stay healthy. Too much or too little can be a sign of problems.

Each of the five areas of the BPP is given a score of 0 or 2, depending on whether certain criteria are met. The scores are then added together for a total score out of 10. A score of 8 to 10 is generally considered a sign that the baby is healthy; a score of 6 is considered borderline; and a score of 4 or less may mean the baby is in distress.