BPP #1 (Week 34)

Well, this morning we went in for our first Biophysical Profile (BPP) ultrasound.  I had high hopes for a perfect score (8 points), but was still pretty nervous.  Our appointment was at 8:15 and it was our first time with a new ultrasound technician because our beloved Currie accepted a position with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

The ultrasound lasted about 35-40 minutes because little Ella Paityn didn't cooperate quite the way that we had hoped.  Again, the ultrasound tech was looking for:

• Amniotic Fluid Volume (2 pts.)-- at least 1 pocket of AF that measured at least 2 cm
• I had at least 3 pockets of AF with 4-5+ cm
• Fetal Movements (2 pts.)- 3 body/limb movements
• She had achieved this in almost no time
• Fetal Tone (2 pts.)- 1 episode of active extension to flexion 
• She had several, but her first was a fist- to open hand- back to fist
• Fetal Breathing Movements (2 pts.)- 1 episode of FBM for at least 30 seconds in duration

Well, the fetal breathing movements is what docked us.  She showed 2 or 3 episodes of breathing movements, but they only lasted for 6-7 seconds maximum.  So, today we got a score of 6.  Not exactly what I was hoping for......

When we got called back to talk to Mandy, she had already asked her nurse (Michelle) to hook me up to the non-stress test (NST) for more data.  Not exactly sure what I was talking to Michelle about here, but you know I could talk the ears off a toad frog!

The NST looked just like this without the Uterine Contraction sensor.

The NST was supposed to last 20 minutes, but I was hooked up to the machine for about 25 minutes. The nurse brought me in some Cheez-Its and apple juice to eat to see if we could get baby going.  Her average heart rate was about 135 bpm.  When reading the NST, Mandy explained that she was looking for at least two instances of accelerated heart rate at least 1 standard deviation (sd) above the mean that last for at least 15 seconds before decelerating. If there is a deceleration in heart rate 1 sd below the mean, it discredits an acceleration.  Fortunately, Ella Paityn did not have any significant decelerations below the mean and had several accelerations. Here is a video of what it looked like when her heart rate was coming back down.

I was cracking Jacob up because at one point (the Cheez-Its and apple juice must have kicked in) Ella Paityn started going cray.  They give you this little sensor that you click when you feel movement and it looks just like the ones that the contestants use on Jeopardy.  I was pressing it away....you know trying to buzz in before anyone else beat me to the punch ;)

Please excuse the massive belly.

After 25 minutes, they took me off of the machine and Mandy came in to talk to me.  She was very optimistic and said that the NST looked great.  She explained that FBM are the most common thing to lose points on and that was why they do weekly monitoring.

Until next week, I'm choosing not to worry.... though it's hard and frightening.  God is in control of our situation and He knows exactly what is going on with Ella Paityn.  She is HIS child first and I have complete confidence and trust in Him.