A biophysical profile is a prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal wellbeing, involving a scoring system. The biophysical profile (BPP) has 5 components: 4 ultrasound (US) assessments and a nonstress test (NST). The US assessments are: amniotic fluid volume, fetal tone, fetal activity, and fetal breathing movements. Each component is graded either 0 or 2 points, and then added up to yield a number between 0 and 10. A BPP of 8 to 10 is generally considered reassuring. A BPP normally is not performed before the second half of a pregnancy: fetal breathing movements do not occur in the first half.
