A nurse is observing fetal breathing movements on an ultrasound for a client who is undergoing a biophysical profile (BPP).

The nurse should document how many points for this variable if the fetus has at least one episode of breathing lasting for 20 seconds within a 30-minute period?

An NST is a test that measures the fetal heart rate in response to fetal movement.

It is a non-invasive and simple way to assess fetal well-being.

An NST may be recommended to further evaluate fetal well-being if the CST result is equivocal, meaning that occasional but not persistent late decelerations are present.

Choice B. Amniocentesis is wrong because it is an invasive procedure that involves inserting a needle into the uterus to collect amniotic fluid for genetic testing or fetal lung maturity.

It is not used to evaluate fetal well-being in response to contractions.

Choice C. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is wrong because it is an imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to create detailed pictures of the fetus and the placenta.

It is not used to evaluate fetal well-being in response to contractions.

Choice D. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is wrong because it is an invasive procedure that involves inserting a catheter or a needle into the placenta to collect chorionic villi for genetic testing.

It is not used to evaluate fetal well-being in response to contractions.

Normal ranges for CST are negative (normal) or positive (abnormal).

Equivocal and unsatisfactory are special categories of test outcomes that require further testing.

Normal ranges for NST are reactive (reassuring) ornon-reactive (non-reassuring).

An alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP) is a blood test that measures the amount of AFP present in blood.

It’s usually part of what’s called a triple screen or quad screen in the second trimester of pregnancy.

The yolk sac, GI tract, and liver of an unborn baby produce AFP.

It then circulates through the fetal and maternal blood.

High levels of AFP in pregnant people can indicate that the baby has a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida or anencephaly.

Choice B is wrong because assessing placental function is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.

However, low levels of AFP can indicate problems with the placenta or the baby’s growth.

Choice C is wrong because determining fetal gender is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.

However, some genetic tests that use a sample of the baby’s DNA from the pregnant person’s blood can reveal the baby’s sex as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Choice D is wrong because diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities is not the primary purpose of an AFP test.

However, an AFP test is usually part of a quad screen that also tests for other markers that can indicate the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.