Uterine artery doppler

[Blobby11]

Hi

Does anyone know anything about this?

I'm 25 weeks with DC2. I had pre-eclampsia last time which came on at the very end and so got referred to a consultant this time. The consultant has weekly clinic but I don't think he ever attends. I've been twice now and it just seems to be staffed by junior doctors.

The first doctor sent me for an extra scan at 24 weeks and they did a doppler examination of the umbilical artery which was within normal limits but the uterine artery doppler showed a mean of more than 1.40 which is apparently high and there was some bilateral notching. The sonographer insisted I went back to the consultant clinic the next day and has also booked me in for 4 weekly growth scans. She said it was just a possible sign of the return of pre-eclampsia and wasn't anything to worry about but I just needed to be monitored more carefully.

I wasn't worried until I went back to the consultant's clinic. The doctor I'd seen before wasn't there so I saw a different one. I asked him to explain the test results and he started speaking in really technical language and I got really lost. I told him I didn't understand and he started talking about having to weigh up the health of the baby against my health and that I might have to have a C-section since my cervix wouldn't be ready yet. He said this was all in the future though and I just needed to keep an eye on my blood pressure for now.

Just wondering if anyone can tell me what the test results mean because the doctor worried me and I'm feeling very confused.

Thanks

I had an issue with notching in the uterine atery flow when pregnant with DS. Although no pre-eclampsia - blood pressure stayed normal throughout.

Can't remember the numbers now, but my consultant told me that the notching was a sign that the blood flow through the placenta wasn't working as well as it should do, and this meant that there was a risk that DS grow too slowly. She said that if DS stopped growing, or grew too slowly, then then they might have to deliver him early, as he wouldn't be getting all the nutrition and so on he needed, which would be harmful for him.
She didn't really talk about pre-eclampsia to me, but maybe that's because I don't have a history of that?

I was prescribed a low dose aspirin to help with the blood flow, and had 3 weekly growth scans until DS was born.

I would suggest that you try and talk to your midwife, or another doctor, and get them to explain your test results again, without the technical details so that you can understand them.

Thanks PurpleStorm. That sounds like what the sonographer said which didn't worry me too much. It was the doctor blinding me with medical terms that got me worried. I've left several messages with the midwives - see different one each time - and no one has got back to me. I've made an appointment with my GP but it's not for a few weeks. Sounds like I should just wait and see

Hi blobby, I thought twice about posting because my obsession with uterine artery dopplers is the result of a rather complicated pregnancy. The dopplers give you a value that indicates the blood pressure across the placenta (pulsatility index = PI) This number is supposed to get lower and lower as pregnancy progresses indicating increasing blood flow to the baby. Mine never did. I ended up giving birth by CS at 28 weeks due to severe intrauterine growth retardation. My baby weighed 660g due to the poor blood flow across the placenta (was full of clots). Notches also indicate poor flow though these came and went during my pregnancy.(And dozen or so scans) The other thing to look out for is positive absent or reverse end diastolic flow. This tells you what is happening to the blood flow through the UA to the baby between the beats of your heart. Positive mean blood continues to flow (a good thing) absent means no blood flows and reverse (a very bad thing) means the baby sends blood back to you. Our CS came about because of reverse flow. The docs said I would most likely have developed PE had things progressed further. I might get to find out soon as I'm 21 weeks pregnant. On aspirin and watching those dopplers carefully. My numbers are currently off the charts (normal for this gestation apparently) but we go back in 3 weeks with fingers crossed for a lower number. Best of luck!

Good luck clabsyqueen hope it all goes well xx

Hi @clabsyqueen. I know it’s been some time but may I ask what happened? That’s the best explanation of high uterine pi I’ve seen out there. Currently 20w and have a mean of 1.4 so have been referred for growth scans. Terrified as lost another baby in January this year at 20w, and they aren’t really sure why. Thanks

Hi jesp, your message has brought me back to mumsnet for the first time in 8 years! My second pregnancy all went totally normally. Was born at normal weight and 1 week overdue naturally. They said that the first one was just "one of those things". A cosmic lottery I like to call it. I can't actually believe I knew so much about dopplers as it has all gone from my head now thankfully. I do still feel pangs of pain for those going through the same. I really feel for you and I know that any positive story can help! I'm here if you need me :-)

@clabsyqueen im commenting in the hope that this will bring you back after another several years! Haha

I, too, have just had a uterine doppler scan. I’m 20 weeks and BOTH readings are “off the charts” (high at 1.14, the same for both which is odd but what the report says.)

You mentioned that was apparently normal for 20 weeks, can I ask why you say that? I’m freaked out about it but the sonographer has said it’s a non issue, and great there’s no notching either.

Hi random you got me back! Nothing gets my attention like dopplers. I'm sad to say though that my understanding of this stuff is all fading away so I can't be much use. If I said it was normal then it must have been true cos I really did my homework. Hope things are going ok - you've had 4 weeks since you posted

@clabsyqueen haha welcome back! Funnily enough I had a private scan this morning and baby is HUGE. 94th centile 😂

My first was 6th centile so I wasn’t expecting it. Relieved though!