Has anyone been told that the blood pressure in the uterine arteries is high and notching?

[eurochick]

This was noted at my 20 week scan (it was the very last thing they checked and everything else is fine). My own blood pressure has been fine all the way through but apparently the blood is struggling a bit to get to the placenta. I'm already on low dose aspirin, which is the usual solution. I have a rescan at 28 weeks to make sure the baby is still growing well. It apparently gives you a fairly high chance of developing pre-eclampsia and a risk of slow growth for the baby.

I wondered if anyone else has had this and how things are going or how they turned out?

I had unilateral high resistance in one artery but no notching. However due to this and low pappa a levels I have the same risk profile as you and have been on 4 weekly growth scans. Just had 28 week scan and baby is following the 50th centile nicely. Basically they have to monitor us in case there is a problem but we still have an excellent chance of a normal pregnancy. The worst case scenario seems to early induction but even then it would be unlikely to be before 36 weeks. So as I understand it (and believe me I am a total neurotic worrier) if there a problem it will be picked up in time and baby will come out a little early. The NHS seems to be pretty on the ball with this sort of thing. Hope that helps.

Thanks grobag. My hopes of a naice water birth are fading, but I just want the baby to be safe. I'm glad your baby is growing well.

My care is actually outside the NHS at the moment - independent midwife + private scans. But later I guess I might need to go back into the NHS system if I need consultant care.

Not quite the same but I had pre eclampsia in my last pregnancy so this is something that they are hot on checking for during this pregnancy. I was scanned at 22 weeks, then 28weeks and since 28 weeks I am being scanned every two weeks despite normal pressures and no notches. I just wanted to let you know that scans should be two weekly after 28 weeks, where you're not with NHS at the min. It's a really good sign that your own blood pressure is fine and I'm assuming you've had not protein in your urine either?

I had notching in the uterine arteries, and low beta-hcg levels, with DS1. I was on consultant led care because of this.

I got put on low dose aspirin after the notching was seen - the consultant told me that the notching meant that DS1 might not grow properly, which in turn meant that they might have to deliver him early (either by inducing labour or c-section). I also had 3 weekly growth scans so that they could monitor DS1's growth.

DS1 grew at a normal rate all through the pregnancy, but was born at 34+1 weeks after my waters broke at 33 weeks - this was however completely unrelated to the notching (consultant confirmed this in my debrief afterwards).

I had this with DC2 after having a placental abruption with DC1 (where nothing untoward was noticed). DC2 came early but was absolutely fine - normal size for gestation and everything. I went to weekly scans and they were going to move me to scans twice a week at 36 weeks but my waters broke before then.

Yes I should have said that I am on scans every two weeks and am
32 weeks. Plan is weekly from 35 weeks

Thanks ladies. It's hard not to worry.

I have high resistance and notching in both arteries.

I had this with first pregnancy, scan at 28 weeks showed it had righted itself, which the consultant said can be the case.

I have everything crossed for that. Did you have any monitoring between 20 and 28 weeks?

Hi had consultant scan and apt at 20 weeks when it was discovered. Consultant asked me to reduce my work hours to half days which gp write the fit note for ( i worked til 37 weeks doing half days). Already was on clexane injections and aspirin, so no changes to medication needed. Saw midwife at 24 weeks, bled at 23 weeks so went to hospital where I saw nurse and a fairly junior dr who said could not see where it was coming from. Bled at 25 weeks, did not go to hospital as only minor bleed and the consultant said she would not see me or monitor until 28 weeks as there was nothing they could or would do. Saw consultant at 28 weeks had scan and it had almost sorted itself out. Consultant then asked me to go in for scans at 32 and 36 weeks ( baby was not in right position til 36 weeks, but did go head down eventually).

So basically no monitoring other than one midwife check. If there had still been a problem at 28 weeks would have had more midwife checks and hospital checks.

Should say my gp was ok throughout and baby's growth put baby at 25-50th centile, which fits the size of both parents!