Biophysical Profile (BPP) test to measure baby's well-being

If you're pregnant, your doctor may have told you to do a BPP. Some mothers get a little scared when they hear that, thinking, "Is there something wrong with my baby?" But this is really nothing to be afraid of. This is a very safe test to make sure the baby is doing well. Let's talk about this in detail.

What is this Biophysical Profile (BPP)?

Simply put, a biophysical profile is a test that uses ultrasound technology to check the health of your unborn baby. This is usually done after 32 weeks of pregnancy. This test can give your doctor a lot of important information about your baby's well-being, especially if your pregnancy is at high risk.

This test mainly examines four aspects of the baby according to a scoring system. Imagine that the doctor looks at four activities of the baby and gives a score for each of them.

• Body movement: Check to see if the baby is moving their limbs and body.
• Muscle tone: Check to see if the baby is doing things like flexing his arms and legs.
• Baby's breathing movements: Although babies don't actually breathe in the womb, they make movements that raise and lower their chest as if they are breathing. We check to see if those movements are happening properly.
• Amniotic fluid volume: This measures whether there is enough amniotic fluid around the baby.

Sometimes, in addition to these four, a fifth test called a non-stress test (NST) is also performed. It checks the baby's heartbeat.

Why are you being asked to take this BPP test?

Not every pregnant woman is asked to have this test. If your doctor has asked you to do this, there may be a reason for it.

• If you have a health condition such as hypertension , lupus , or kidney disease.
• If you feel that your baby's movements, that is, the baby's movements in the womb, are lacking.
• If you have had a traumatic experience in a previous pregnancy, such as a complication or stillbirth .
• If you are expecting twins or triplets .
• If you have a condition such as high blood pressure (preeclampsia) during pregnancy.
• If there is a suspicion that the baby's growth is below normal (intrauterine growth restriction) .
• If you had diabetes before pregnancy, or if you developed diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) .
• If the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby is too low or too high.
• If you are over 35 years old when you have a baby.
• If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is more than 30 (obesity).

How is this BPP test done?

There are two main parts to this test: the ultrasound scan and the non-stress test (NST).

Ultrasound scan

This is just like your usual scan. You lie down on a bed, a gel is applied to your stomach, and a device called a transducer is moved over your stomach. The image of the baby is then displayed on a computer screen. The doctor observes the baby for about 30 minutes, checking the four factors mentioned earlier (movement, muscle activity, breathing movements, and water content) and gives a score.

Non-stress Test (NST)

This involves monitoring the baby's heartbeat. While you're lying down, two straps are placed around your belly. One measures the baby's heartbeat, and the other measures uterine contractions.

The main thing to look at is whether the heart rate increases slightly when the baby moves, that is, when it moves. Just as our heart rate increases when we climb stairs, a healthy baby's heart rate also increases when it moves.

This test usually takes about 20-40 minutes. Sometimes, if the baby is sleeping and doesn't move, you can use something like a buzzer to wake him up.

Let's understand BPP results and how they are scored.

This is very easy to understand. Out of the four points that are looked at on the ultrasound scan, if one point is satisfactory, it is given a score of 2. If it is not satisfactory, it is given a score of 0. No score is given. That means a maximum score of 8.

Don't worry if the result is abnormal. It doesn't always mean there's a problem. Sometimes, if you also get an NST test and get a score of 2, your total score can be 10 out of 10.

What does the total score mean?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this test?

Advantages

The main advantage is that this is a painless, safe, and painless test that does not harm you or your baby . It can provide valuable information about your baby's health.

Disadvantages

• This may be slightly less accurate when performed before 32 weeks of pregnancy.
• If you are taking certain medications (e.g. corticosteroids ), it may affect the baby's movements and breathing patterns, which may affect the results.
• Sometimes, the test may need to be repeated if the results are unclear.

It's normal to feel a little nervous or anxious when discussing tests during pregnancy. But remember, the BPP is a very useful test for your and your baby's safety. The doctor is doing this to make sure everything is going well. So if you have any questions or concerns about this, talk to your doctor about it openly.

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