PAPP-A

[gevey]

Hi there :

13 weeks pregnant mum to be here.. had my first lots of blood tests last week following my first scan!
Had a letter today saying that I have "Low PAPP-A hormone levels'
I have had the tests for Down's syndrome, Edwards syndrome and patau's syndrome which has all came back as low risk.

On this letter, it's mentioned I will be put on 150mg of aspirin and to contact my GP for the prescription.
A couple of questions - had anybody had low PAPP-A before and have any more info?
I have read that people normally take 75mg so I'm wondering why it's double the dose?

I don't have a midwife appt until the end of this month so I'm just a little bit anxious and confused about whether I should start taking them straight away.

It says I'm also going to be put under the care of a consultant obstetrician and offered a series of scans, again, the letter gives no more information so I presume I will just have to wait for more letters?

Apologies for the long thread, anxious pregnant lady

[Neonprint]

OP I'm probably the worst person to comment as I don't have children. But I clicked on your thread as my sister had this and was super anxious.

She got a letter exactly like you. It was the weekend too so she couldn't talk to anyone and was really worries. Really wish they wouldn't send this via letter. Anyway it was not a big deal at all. She had a few more scans but no issues any my niece was a good weight (6.5lbs) 2 weeks overdue.

So fears of low weight and baby coming early were not realised. Just wanted to share as she was really worried and I know that's not nice.

[Ironytheoppositeofwrinkly]

The guidelines have very recently changed re aspirin dose, the research now suggests that 150mg is the smallest dose that will be effective in improving pregnancy outcomes.

[Amethyst2502]

Hi @gevey I was in the same position as you a few months ago. I also got sent a letter saying I had low papp-a and was booked in for serial growth scans from 26 weeks. I wasn't prescribed aspirin though it seems that this varies from trust to trust as there hasn't been that much research into it yet I think. Neither was I put under a consultant just the extra scans with a midwife review afterwards.

I had my first growth scan at 26 weeks and baby measured on the 61st centile overall, she then dropped to the 45th at my scan at 30 weeks which was a bit scary but the hospital had me back 2 weeks later for another scan and since then she has levelled herself out at just under the 50th centile.

I'm now 35+4 and have one more scan booked in at 38 weeks but hopefully all will still be measuring okay! I was very worried when I first got the letter and googled incessantly but I tried to look at the extra scans as more opportunities to see baby.

[Bubbles1485]

Hey, I had this following my bloods at 12 weeks - I spoke to my midwife and she confirmed I was ok to start on the aspirin so I started that week. In my local area they said I'd have an additional growth scan at 31weeks with a consultant appt straight after to discuss if everything was looking good or not - the hospital wrote to me directly with the appt date about 6weeks later. From reading on here I think different areas may book appts in different ways, and some have more scans than others so it may be different for you but it also seems that this is a relatively new thing they monitor for and are being cautious about and a lot of people have no issues down the line (my midwife suggested for now I should just see it as a chance to see baby again before I give birth). I haven't had my growth scan yet but my 20 week one all went fine.

[freedles]

My friend had exactly this situation a couple of years ago. She had all the growth scans and eventually delivered a perfectly healthy and chunky baby boy a week after her due date! It didn’t cause any issues at all but they keep an extra eye on you just to make sure it stays that way 😊

[gevey]

Thank you so much for all your replies, this is the first time posting on here so I didn't know if I was going to her any!
My mind has been put at ease and I'm just going to play by ear!
so thank you.

[Jchina]

I have it too, currently 26w and same as you got a letter with my screening results. I had an extra scan at 23 weeks with a consultant who checked the blood flow through the placenta and baby’s growth. Baby is a little smaller than my previous two (third baby here) but still perfectly fine (20th centile) so no more scans until 32 weeks. There is obviously a chance there will be issues but it is actually very unlikely and can be reassured that they will keep an extra close eye to make sure there isn’t and you get extra opportunities to see your baby! There’s a great group on FB if you need a bit more support! Good luck X

[Dixiechick1991]

Hi I had low pappa in first pregnancy back in 2017
Had the aspirin daily and extra scans at 30&36 weeks. My son was born at 38 weeks exactly weighing 6lb 10oz so I imagine I’d id made it to term he’d have been fairly chunky.
I haven’t got low pappa this time so it’s not a forever thing either x

[Squibble84]

I’ve got low Papp-a and taking 150mg daily aspirin and will have extra growth scans every 4 weeks from 28 weeks. The consultant didn’t seem concerned, and I’m seeing it as an extra chance to see the baby is doing ok which I’m happy with!