Low papp-a

Hey! I literally got a call from my midwife and told I have this yesterday. What I’ve been told is Bottom line is you’ll get monitored a lot more closely throughout and have more scans, aspirin as you mention and the consultant might suggest other things depending on your other factors regarding any other care. The risks are small baby, premature (before 37 weeks) and that you’ll get preeclampsia basically. But the midwife said they don’t even test every pregnant woman for it yet as there’s not enough research so it’s not a huge worry. Just extra monitoring. Here if you want to chat xxx

Thank you Sophie! I was just surprised that no one has called me yet I had to go on and find ourself. Maybe my midwife will call me today. I won't complain with extra monitoring though 🥰 xxx

@Kimberley I know! The midwife said some hospitals don’t but they’re attentive to make sure people don’t worry. Google is not a good idea at all! I think she said you get like 4/5 extra scans to check baby is growing correctly so yes that’ll be lovely. Xx

Hey @Kimberley I found out 2 weeks I have low Papp-A (there is a group chat on here just for it, I received some amazing advice on it, just an FYI). I am 0.38 and need to be at 0.41. It just means the blood flow through to the placenta means slower growth, BUT not always! So they put you on aspirin which is a blood thinner to help flow. I am also starting out with 3 weekly scans to monitor growth process. If all is ok, I stick to that plan, if growth is still smaller I have even more scans and will go on blood thinners. It’s actually very common which is a bit more comforting. Hope this helps you too xx

@Kelly thank you ever so much! My reading is 0.33 and no idea what I'm supposed to be at. I'll join the group! Xx

I found out on Sunday as I received a letter in my post box (live in flats). Mine is 0.27 MoM. Starting asprin tonight. I was told to take 150mg in the evening. Extra scans will be booked. I'm already with a consultant as high BMI, so this just adds to my high risk, but I'm trying not to worry. I made the mistake of Google and wish I hadn't. My daughter, whom I had Dec last year, had placental lakes, which affected growth, and she was fine (7lbs 13oz and 2 weeks late!), so I'm trying not to worry. X

Praying for us all, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about and it can be managed so that's the main thing. I took mine this afternoon. Should I have waited till this evening ? It doesn't give me directions on when to take it just saying take 2 with a meal, after or before food xxx

@Kimberley all docs I’ve spoken to say it’s been most effective before bed hun so maybe try that going forward xx

@Sophie thank you! I'll do that starting tomorrow ☺️ xx

My letter states take at night so I took it with my dinner. I'm also going to start side sleeping as I'm carrying a bit of extra weight and hoping not sleeping on my back will be a good thing. X

I know you can sleep on your back until 28 weeks but just trying to do everything for a healthier pregnancy xx

Hey @Kimberley anything under 0.41 is flagged as “too low” so if you’re only 0.33 it’s not that bad, and hopefully like me, aspirin helps thin the blood and baby growth will be unaffected. I see it as a positive. More check ups to ensure our little one is doing ok. Also, just a tip someone gave me; ask what percentile the baby is. I did and ours is 53 percentile. So even through my PAPP A is low, our baby is actually at the right growth stage. Just keep asking the percentile as you go, it’s helped me worry less 🙏🏼

@Kimberley I shouldn’t say “right growth stage” as everyone is different, it’s more, baby is in the middle, not overly big and not too small. Our plan is to hopefully keep baby in this range until birth 🤞🏼

I found out after the 12 week screening that I have low PAPP-A and was advised the same, Aspirin for the remainder of my pregnancy. I have done some reading and it sounds like it can be quite common x