I'm Down with BPP...Yeah, You Know Me!!

"An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises."
~ Mae West

Today was our first BPP (Biophysical Profile) appointment.  Mae West was absolutely correct with her statement, and it fits perfectly for a BPP.  For those who do not know what a BPP is, I will explain it in today's post (I will be mentioning it again in later posts, since I will be getting 1 a week for next few weeks).  


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A Biophysical Profile (BPP) test measures the health of the baby during pregnancy. A BPP test may include a nonstress test with electronic fetal heart monitoring and a fetal ultrasound. It measures the baby's heart rate, muscle tone, movement, breathing, and the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby.  The measurement of the amniotic fluid is especially important right now, as well as a closer assessment of the heart, since I'm on Ibuprofen for reducing contractions.  Ibuprofen can have a negative affect on fluid and development of the heart.

A BPP is commonly done in the last trimester of pregnancy. If there is a chance that the baby may have problems during the pregnancy (high-risk pregnancy), a BPP may be done by 32 to 34 weeks or earlier. Some women with high-risk pregnancies may have a BPP test every week or twice a week in the third trimester.  The schedule I am on will be a BPP once a week on Tuesdays and a NST (nonstress test) on Fridays.  Nonstress tests are what I was having twice a day at the hospital with the baby being put on an external fetal heart rate monitor.

So...how did "Little" Taz do?  Passed with FLYING colors!!!  When checking for "breathing", what is looked for is practice breathing.  This is the motion that shows that the baby will naturally know how to take that first breath upon coming earthside.  The baby has 30 minutes to demonstrate this behavior...Taz did it in the first 30 seconds!!!  Taz also lived up to the nickname and was squirming all over, demonstrating great movement and muscle tone.  Fluid measurement was perfect, as well as heart rate.  I have an Honor Roll child already!!  He he he

Staying on this cloud...I decided to spend the afternoon and evening upstairs in bed.  It has been nice...just talking to Taz and putting together the Baby Shower favors.  I'll post pics later...but seeing as how this is a Wedding Night baby, and our wedding was "Movie-themed", we are going for a "Coming Attraction" Movie-themed shower!!  So excited to fill you in with more details...too bad it's late and I need to go to sleep now.  Ha ha ha...ain't I a stinker???