Please help - been recalled following screening - high HcG

[Rarfy]

Hello ladies, desperate for some help and more importantly positive stories! I've searched high and low and can't find many similar stories.

This is my 4th pregnancy after a complex history as follows:

Pg1 = mmc discovered at 9 weeks finally removed at 14 weeks baby / fetus whatever you would like to call it stopped developing at 5 weeks. No testing done.

Pg2 = stillbirth at 27wks. Son had PFFD discovered at anomaly scan. PFFD compatible with life not linked with death. Post mortem returned no cause of death.

Pg3 = mmc at 14+2. Hb stopped around 14wks. Tests revealed baby had triploidy.

Had bleeds in all the above.

Pg4 = now, currently 13+4 had screening done on Thursday. Reveived phonecall yesterday to tell me that my results for Edwards and Pataus are 1:50,000. However they are unable to screen for Downs due to a high HcG reading.

I asked for my results which were as follows:
NT = 1.6mm
PAPP A = 1.9
HcG = 5.58.

The midwife wants me back in to look at the placenta as high HcG can indicate a problem.

I sat and thought about it cried then called back. The MW said that is there was a problem with the placenta it would usually have been picked up on the scan. I was scanned 3 times on thursday by 2 different people due to baby being in awkward position for NT so i'd like to think she is right.

She also said that sometimes they bring people back in and it is nothing.

If there is a problem with the placenta there is nothing they can do.

The screening for downs cant be done so we need to look at other options if we definitely want that and i don't know what the f to do.

Any advice anyone? Especially from anyone who has been there?

I rang Arc who basically said they cant help because i havent had results and they have never heard of someone not being given a restult due to high HcG. In all fairness the internet seems to back this up.

Thanks if you have reached the end of this essay!

Hi, I had very high High HcG levels (higher than yours I think), but PAPP A and NT were within normal levels. My downs screening came back as 1:160 so just outside the high risk levels. I was concerned throughout my pregnancy but no one could give me a reason for the high HcG levels. I had a perfectly healthy 8lb 14oz baby 😀
NT = 1.6mm
PAPP A = 1.9
HcG = 5.58.

Sorry, didn't mean to paste your measurements at the end there 🙄

Perfect thank you @gardenlawn. Did you have further testing with that result? I think anything over 100 i would be tempted not to bother.

I just dont understand why they havent given me a risk factor as others here have had it and i have seen elsewhere on the web people have.

No we didn't have further testing. Although it was in the back of my mind throughout pregnancy. I was having regular scans as my previous baby had been small, so that was reassuring as hopefully any heart defects or other visible abnormalities would have been picked up on that.

Have you looked online to see if there's a calculator you can put your results into? As a complete guess you would be lower risk than me as my NT was over 2 I think and I was 36. Can't remember what my PAPP A was but normal levels.

Someone kindly linked to one yesterday but i had to sign up to use it and didnt because i wondered if it would peak my worry again.

I am due to have scans every 4 weeks so i like you think if there is an issue it would be picked up in good time. I have a scan Tuesday to check placenta then my next scan is 16th August which is a 16wk scan. I guess they will be able to see more then?

I am trying to talk myself into the amnio but its always there in the back of my mind my thoughts on it after my son and before this pregnancy.

Yes hopefully they'll be able to see more at 16 weeks, and definitely at 20 wks. I found it annoying that nobody could give me a reason for the HcG levels, and googling wasn't very helpful either! I was annoyed at myself for having the screening in the first place, I didn't with my first so was blissfully unaware!

I'm the same @gardenlawn they couldnt get the nuchal fold hence the three scans thursday im also bruised from the scanning which made me anxious. I wish i had just left it and hoped for the best.

I was so positive when i came away on Thursday. My pic looked great. I saw too lovely legs which was reassuring after my sons pffd (one leg significantly under developed). The phone call was a complete shock. The 1:50,000 results for the other two trisomies are great though which i suppose is some positive to take away from it.

Hi Rarfy,

I think I recognise you from a while back (my little girl has PFFD) I’m sorry to hear this pregnancy is causing worry. I hope the scan is reassuring today xxx

Thank you @Gizmo2206 lovely to hear from you. We have definitely talked under my previous aliasses! I hope your daughter is doing great!

The scan went great. Placenta is working fine. Nasal bone was pointed out. Baby looks good so it's looking really good.

They still cant give me a risk factor for downs so i have talked about various options with the screening midwife. I am quite happy with how things look at the moment and so we are going to hold off for the quad blood test at 16 weeks where i will also be having another scan. But i am feeling pretty positive everything is ok.

The screening midwife did say they bring someone in about once a month / every two months for the high hcg and in the 4 years she has been there there has never been any problems with the babies so hopefully she is right.

Screening midwife also said there was nothing strong enough in the information they have already to suggest i have invasive testing so i took that as a really big plus point.

That's great news. I'm glad everything looks good.

Thank you @gardenlawn and for your support when i was worrying!