Low papp-a from screening blood tests

[Mizzy19]

Am 14 weeks pregnant. Went in for my consultant appointment yesterday and was told that I've got a low papp-a (from their paperwork I saw low is when papp-a is less than 0.42MoM). Unsure what the exact figure is for myself but will find out. And that I will need regular growth scans etc. That baby is smaller than what it should be I was told.
My other screening came back as low risk with Down with 1 in 1711 and Edwards/Patau as 1 in 1125.
I wasn't told anything else. I've never heard of Papp-a, but after go ogling, it's a protein produced by the placenta. Apparently its low meaning that oxygen and food exchange isn't 100% through placenta I guess.
This is my second pregnancy.
My first one was overdue at 41+2 and baby boy was born via c section weighing 8.6pounds.
I'm a little concerned. Had anyone had this and what happened and is there real cause for concern?
Anything I could do to increase my levels?
The consultant has advised to take 150mg daily at night to improve placental blood flow and exchange. Plus I sleep on my left as it is.
If anyone could share their experiences and put my mind at rest, I'd be grateful.

Hi,

This is a bit of a delayed response.

I message in the hope of giving you some reassurance.

I too had a low PAPP-A score (I don't recall the score) but, it was low. Myself and my partner were both 36 at the time and this was our 3rd pregnancy, sadly we lost our 2nd early. We also scored 1: 47 for DS and chose to get further testing- our son came back clear.

I remember reading research papers, reading through every mumsnet posts for months, asking my auntie who's a midwife what it all means (who told me not to worry and is actually common.) Going through a pregnancy during a pandemic is stressful enough, but hearing and not fully understanding what the low papp-a score meant totally took away the experience of being pregnant.

We ended up having growth scans every 2 weeks, our midwife was concerned about our son's stomach circumference and I was measuring tiny! Our son was born 6lb and a 1/4 oz of perfection!!

At 2 weeks old HV was concerned his head circumference had a major leap and wanted the GP to check- turns out hubby's family all have big head haha. At his next HV appointment he caught up on his weight and length.

10 weeks old our son started rolling, 5 weeks old now and he's sitting. He is an absolute chunk! An absolute delight, so advanced and strong- way bigger and stronger than his older brother at that age!

This evening I thought back to how stressful our pregnancy was and laughing tonight about all the fun were having now with our son. He's a real hoot! I had to come back on to mumsnet to give reassurance to anyone else going through similar screening results.

Please enjoy your pregnancy, enjoy this special time. Go to those appointments and try not to worry. Please don't be like me crying myself to sleep. I worried myself sick...for no reason! X

I had low p appa and never took aspirin - the midwife causally mentioned when I was just a few weeks to go that I should have been taking it (no one told me). But anyway baby was born healthy and above average. He was over 8lb and measures in the 90 percentiles. He has to wear the next up size for his age. So doesn’t have to mean small baby. If it made him smaller I’d hate to see what he would have been like without it.

Sorry just jumping on here as had my letter saying they are referring me to placenta clinic for extra growth scans due to low PappA altho the letter doesnt give the actual figure... Im only 14wks so behind all of you but appreciatr any updates or encouragement as its completely paniced me!!!

Have been taking 150mg aspirin since wk10 due to high BMI but cant stop worrying now Ive googled!!!

@LC84 i know it’s easier said than done but I wouldn’t worry too much. Low Papp-a seems to be very common and most of the time, it’ll cause no issues. I’m 22+2 with low Papp-a and baby couldn’t be better. Kicking me every other hour, regularly

@LC84 I agree with @leah3. I found out at 13 weeks through a letter just stating the papp a levels were low with no actual figure and no info really on what it meant! I started on the 150mg aspirin and tried to push it to the back of my mind which was incredibly hard. I'm now 22 weeks with my little boy who is always on the move in there, and my anomaly scan showed perfect measurements so at the moment it seems its normal for my pregnancy this time? (Always had average levels with my daughter). I do have an arterial doppler of the placenta on the 7th of july so I will keep you updated what the results from that are. You're doing what you can with the aspirin so as hard as I know it is, try and enjoy your pregnancy as its actually very common and usually isnt a concern, these "normal figures" are just an indication, babies and their mums anatomy cant really be placed on a normal scale as we are all different and all our pregnancies are different too! The pregnancy itself is as individual as us and our babies :)

We were kind of lucky in a way because we didn't find out until 22 weeks. We some how misplaced the letter at 13 weeks. So we haven't had as long to worry about it. But the midwife just brushed it off so we googled it and yes it's terrifying. The wife was in tears. But after alot of research on sites like this you soon learn its common and also rare for anything to go wrong. My wife's just over 36 weeks pregnant and all our scans so far have come back perfect. We have our birth plan meeting today.

Aah thanks so much guys that has made me feel a lot better!! Think its the vagueness in the lettet etc but will try and focus on the fact we get extra scans so more chances to see baby and hopefully all ok.... let me know how you all get on!!!

Our baby girl was born 11 days late on the 7/8/22 weighed 9.6lbs perfectly healthy. The low PAPP-A had zero effect on her growth or birth. (Natural gas n air)

@Markryb congratulations!!! Gives us all reassurance xx

Awwhh@Markryb congratulations, so happy for you. 🥳
Just goes to show that these low papp-a doesn't mean anything.

There are a lot of people here discounting what a low Papp-a means.

Aside of the risk for DS, it gives you risk for preeclampsia, low birth weight and pre term birth, stillborn and you should have extra scans in the 3rd semester to check growth.

my baby measured fine until 36 weeks and then didn’t grow at all for 4 weeks and I was induced. She’s fine and though she was born at 2nd percentile weight she put on weight and got to 25th percentile.

so your baby and yourself could be fine until very late in pregnancy.

im 2nd time pregnant now and they told me as I’m 42 they won’t let me pass 40 weeks. I have the combined test tomorrow so will see how it’s this time around.

ove already been prescribed aspirin too. This time is 150mg, 5 years ago they gave me half of that but said the dose has been updated in the meantime. I hope this bigger dose helps more with baby’s growth.