A nurse is interpreting the results of a biophysical profile (BPP) for a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation.

The nurse should understand that each of the five variables is assigned a score of how many points?

This means that the baby’s heart rate did not slow down after the contractions induced by oxytocin, which is a sign of normal fetal well-being.

A negative CST is normal and desirable.

Choice A is wrong because no contractions were induced during the test.

This means that the test was inconclusive and could not assess the baby’s response to stress.

Choice B is wrong because late decelerations of the FHR were observed with at least 50% of contractions.

This means that the baby’s heart rate slowed down and stayed slow after the contractions, which is a sign of fetal distress and hypoxia.

A positive CST is abnormal and concerning.

Choice D is wrong because the client experienced mild uterine cramping during the test.

This is not a relevant factor for interpreting the CST results, which depend on the FHR patterns.

Uterine cramping can be a side effect of oxytocin administration or nipple stimulation.

A maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein test is a type of prenatal blood test that measures the levels of MSAFP in the blood of a pregnant person.The test helps the healthcare provider assess the baby’s risk of certain medical conditions, such as neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities.The test is usually done between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

A screening test means that it does not diagnose any health conditions, but only indicates the probability of having them.

A positive test means that the baby has a higher risk of having a birth defect, but it does not confirm it.

A negative test means that the baby has a lower risk of having a birth defect, but it does not rule it out.Further tests are needed to confirm or exclude the diagnosis.

A diagnostic test means that it can provide a definite diagnosis of a health condition.A maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein test is not a diagnostic test for spinal defects or chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

Statement A is wrong because it says that the test is a diagnostic test for spinal defects in the fetus, which is not true.

Statement C is wrong because it says that the test is a diagnostic test for chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, which is not true.

Statement D is wrong because it says that the test is a screening test for chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, which is only partially true.The test can screen for some chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, but not all of them.

The test also screens for neural tube defects, which are not chromosomal abnormalities.

Normal ranges for MSAFP vary depending on the gestational age and the laboratory methods used.Generally, MSAFP levels increase until about 32 weeks of pregnancy and then decrease until delivery.

High levels of MSAFP may indicate neural tube defects, multiple pregnancies, incorrect dating of pregnancy, or other conditions.Low levels of MSAFP may indicate Down syndrome, other chromosomal abnormalities, or other conditions.