anyone medical know anything about arterial notching and low blood flow to placenta?

[woowa]

Am 23+2 and this was found yesterday at scan. Doc said worst case scenario is pre-eclampsia and early delivery or baby not growing and early delivery. I really would like to know what the chances are of these things happening and how likely it is i'll get to term, or whether i really need to be be preparing for very early baby. I'll ask doc these questions at next scan intwo weeks time, but would like to know now, without having to google it which only brings too much information.

Anyone with medical knowledge, and practical answers to these questions, i'd be really grateful.

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Some knowledge due to past history of pre-eclampsia and medical training. Was your baby measuring the right size for 23+2? Any why did you have a scan scheduled at this time [are you going private]?

Bit tricky to answer this but although notching is not a good sign (it does increase the risks of small baby and/or pre-eclampsia) these tests are not very specific (i.e. they pick up a lot of babies who will in fact be totally normal - there is still a good chance that your baby will be delivered totally normally at full term - or that even if you did develop pre-eclampsia it would at least be close to full term i.e. not necessarily a very early delivery).

Appointments and growth scans every 2 weeks sounds like appropriate management, so that's good. Did they make you aware of symptoms of pre-eclampsia (baby moving less, headaches, generally feeling ill, pain in side / back, flashing lights). Also that pre-eclampsia can occasionally develop very fast in between appointments so you should present with any concerning symptoms even if you had just had a normal BP / protein test?

I would try not to panic as unless you had any other concerning symptoms most likely all will be ok - but I also think its very important to go back into be checked out quickly if you're just not feeling right at any point. Ask docs for more info on this next appointment if need be

Thank you v much, that is really helpful. I had a growth scan and doppler as I have polycystic kidney disease. It is pretty inactive at the moment and they don't think it is related to the notching, but i'm glad that it got me this extra scan anyway.

Baby is measuring exactly what it should for dates, and is moving a lot. Doc didn't tell me pre-eclampsia symptoms, so thank you for highlighting those, but she did say to go straight in if i thought the movement wasn't there any more, so i guess that's why- i couldn't work out how they were related, so that's helpful to know.

I think we need to make a big list of questions for the doctor at the next scan, but i do feel very reassured by your answer, so thank you again.

I had bilateral notching in my previous pregnancy meaning there were notches in both of my uterine arteries. I delivered a full term baby at 40 weeks. I did develop high BP towards the end of the pregnancy, but it was managed. I did swell a lot, but no protein in my urine, so no pre-eclampsia as an official diagnosis. I also self monitored my BP three times a day and had to report the readings at each of my appointments with consultant so that I didn't have to spend time in hospital as a part of the monitoring procedure. Hope everything goes fine with your pregnancy.

Glad I reassured you. But as you have kidney disease even if "inactive" (I have mild kidney disease too) and notching you are in a high risk category. Most likely all will still be fine - but there is evidence that women and babies have better outcomes with pre-eclampsia if they are aware of the risks.

Personally, I would monitor myself at home (ask the hospital if you can borrow a BP monitor validated in pregnancy; you can also just buy protein sticks from a chemist for about £8 for a large box).

I would also have a very low threshold for going back in to hospital MAU (even if baby moving less / just not feeling quite well).

Good luck and hope the rest of your pregnancy is long and boring!

I had high resistance in the utrine artery - notches on both sides. I was put on aspirin for the remainder of the pregnancy. I delivered a 8 pound 12 ounce baby past the due date - no preeclampsia or high blood pressure (and I have a history of a very pre-term birth just 10 months previous to this birth). In two subsequent pregnancies, I had normal blood flow. I am now 22+6 and have the first doppler in this pregnancy in just a few hours.

Hi woowa, hope all is ok. I also have notching found at 20 weeks by consultant who did my scan. Was told by consultant that it is not till 28 weeks that they can really tell if problems with placenta (eg failing, or reduced growth) so will be scanned at 27 weeks (growth scan and GTT) and by consultant scanned at 29 weeks. I have my own blood pressure monitor already (not expensive to buy) and it is really low at 105ish over 68 which is encouraging. Am on baby aspirin anyway so don't know if would have been prescribed it. Am 21 weeks now.

Hope all goes well for you.

I was told that i had notching in my third pregnany and developed preeclampsia, i also had preeclampsia in other pregnancies though and nothign was ever mentioned. I am for this pregnancy havign growth scans at 28 and 32 weeks and also midwife appointments every two weeks or every week (depending on bp) from 24 weeks onwards. I am also taking low dose asprin once a day. I have a monitor at home doing once a day and keeping a record so i can see any trend upwards for myself as well. Oh and will be calling hospital at the slightest hint of a worry or concern

0h forgot two of my four babies have been early because of it but not extremely earliest was 35 weeks. Although i already have an induction date of 27th feb if no baby by that point as wont be allowed to go overdue at all i think thats it lol