A nurse is caring for a pregnant client who has a nonreactive or nonreassuring result on a nonstress test (NST).

The healthcare provider orders a biophysical profile (BPP) to further assess fetal well-being.

What components are included in a BPP? (Select all that apply.)

To assess fetal oxygenation.The primary purpose of a nonstress test (NST) is to check the baby’s heart rate before birth and see how it responds to movement and contractions.The test can help determine if the baby is healthy and has enough oxygen.The test is usually done in the third trimester of pregnancy, especially if there are any risk factors or concerns.The test is simple and noninvasive.

Choice B is wrong because measuring fetal growth is not the main goal of an NST.

Fetal growth can be assessed by other methods, such as ultrasound or fundal height measurement.

Choice C is wrong because evaluating fetal anomalies is not the main goal of an NST.

Fetal anomalies can be detected by other tests, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

Choice D is wrong because monitoring fetal activity is not the main goal of an NST.

Fetal activity can be monitored by other ways, such as counting kicks or using a handheld Doppler device.

A biophysical profile (BPP) is a prenatal test that evaluates the well-being of the fetus by combining an ultrasound examination with a nonstress test.The test assesses five components: fetal heart rate, breathing, movement, tone, and amniotic fluid volume.Each component is scored as 2 (normal) or 0 (abnormal), and a total score of 8 or 10 is normal, 6 is equivocal, and 4 or less is abnormal.

Choice C is wrong because fetal heart rate is not part of the ultrasound assessment, but rather the nonstress test.The nonstress test evaluates fetal heart rate and response to fetal movement.

Normal ranges for each component are as follows:

• Fetal heart rate: At least two accelerations in 20 minutes

• Fetal breathing: At least one episode of > 30s or >20sin 30 minutes

• Fetal movement: At least three discrete body/limb movement in 30 minutes

• Fetal tone: At least one episode of active extension with return to flexion of fetal limb(s) or trunk, opening and closing of hand considered to be normal tone

• Amniotic fluid volume: At least one vertical pocket > 2 cm in the vertical axis or AFI of 5 cm