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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Very low Papp-a levels

102 replies

KittyandTeal · 24/11/2014 13:01

Just wondering if anyone has any information on this.

Had the triple test for DS a week ago. My risk has come back as 1:1700 so very low. However, my Papp a level was 0.08!!! Seems to be very very low.

The only info they've given me is that it could be linked to small babies. I've got additional scans at 28 and 34 weeks. I just don't know how much I need to worry about all this

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laurenamium · 07/12/2014 08:25

I fell off the thread! Just place marking before my scan tomorrow! I'm so nervous!

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 07/12/2014 08:30

Good luck. I hate that impending nervous feeling.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x

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laurenamium · 09/12/2014 08:13

Hey! Just checking in to let you know that everything went well at the 20 week scan I'm having a boy! And I have another scan on Christmas Eve with a consultant app after so I guess that one will be more about the PAPP A

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 09/12/2014 08:19

Woohoo! I'm so pleased for you! I was thinking about you yesterday :)

How come another scan so soon? Sounds like me, one at 18 weeks then another at 21 weeks. Think we're having similar treatment from the hospital which is reassuring. I just really want my scan done now but I've got another 3 or so weeks to wait! Feels like forever.

My DH is desperate for a boy this time, I just want a healthy baby, don't think he's fully got his head around the fact that that might not happen.

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laurenamium · 09/12/2014 09:08

DP really wanted a boy too the sonographer thought it might be to check the babies growth and urinary tract but I have no idea! It'll be nice to see him again at any rate

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 09/12/2014 09:22

That's great. My additional scan is an extra growth scan too.

I want to get the initial anomaly scan done then I think I might be able to get a bit more excited :)

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laurenamium · 09/12/2014 15:24

Will you find out the gender? I just want to shop now and get excited but Christmas presents are my first priority!

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 10/12/2014 16:08

Yeah I want to if everything is ok and they can.

If they can't at the 18 week scan we def will at 21 weeks.

I found out with dd and I really liked knowing. It also gives us a chance to sort out the baby clothes :)

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Original poster

KittyandTeal · 11/12/2014 18:41

Had my 16 week appointment today. Midwife says I'm measuring fine for 16 weeks and heard baby's heartbeat so feeling pretty positive today :)

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Keepontrudging · 11/12/2014 19:05

Hi all.
Kitty glad you are measuring well. I also measured very low for papp-a and very high for hcg which resulted in 1:27 Down's syndrome risk. I was determined to keep my baby regardless, but had the cvs as I just had to know and prepare. It came back all clear fr the 3 main trisomies :) the latter part of the test was inconclusive though (as not enough cells to test) but they are much rarer. As time went on we also discovered slight fluid around babies heart, but that did go by itself and has remained to stay away. We went back for a growth scan at 28 weeks and baby was measuring big (my dd was big so we weren't auprised) Hwoever, at a recent scan of (34 weeks growth scan) baby was measured as small. He is below the 10th centile, which means he is classed as having IUGR as suspected by having a low pappa . The midwife dos explain 9/10 people with low pappa go on to have normal sized babies- we are just the 1/10 that have not. Since then I have had raised BP and this is being monitored to ensure no signs of pre eclampsia. They think it is just not rsating enough (I have a toddler)
I have to go back on Wednesday for a scan, I'll be 37 weeks. If he is still growing then they will allow me to go until 39 weeks. If he is not, he will have to be delivered next week. I have gotten my head around it all and I am ready now. I just wants what's best for our son. I have researched this a lot throughout my pregnancy and from what I find, the low papp a hormone comes from the placenta and if it is low in levels it can sometimes mean a small baby (though more often it doesn't mean anything) they don't know why or what the link is. I have asked. Not enough research has been done to give a definitive answer, sure they will one day. I would say be positive as you are more than likely o be the 9/10 who's baby is fine- and even if not , they can manage things for you and the baby to ensure you are ok. Good luck!

laurenamium · 11/12/2014 22:24

Glad everything is measuring well for you kitty

Thank you keepon for your update! It's really good to hear someone that's going through it a bit further along so as what to expect! Good luck at your next scan! You must let us know how you get on

Keepontrudging · 12/12/2014 16:45

I will keep you all posted. My BP was high again today so had to go back to the hospital to be monitored. It's not too high, and no protein in urine. They have done my bloods and will call me with the results of pre eclampsia - they reckon it's not though :) next stop is my scan wed!

Mslad · 12/12/2014 17:24

Good luck keepon - thanks for letting us know your story.

Great news Kitty - I hope your mind is a bit more at ease now. I head the heartbeat on Wednesday (17+2) too, ad the mid wife is also happy with the size of my bump, so just beginning to get nervous for the 20 week scan

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 13/12/2014 08:12

Thanks for your story keepon; it's really good to hear from people further down the road.

It sounds like they're keeping a very close eye on you which is great. I've kind of got my head around it all a bit more and am ok with a small baby as long as they're ok. With all the monitoring we've got it seems that they'll pick something up if anything is wrong.

It very exciting that your little on will be with you soon though.

Mslad it's such a relief to hear that heartbeat isn't it! I'd kind of convinced myself they wouldn't find it.

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Mslad · 13/12/2014 16:53

Kitty I had totally convinced myself they wouldn't find it. I had fully expected to have to go for a scan, and then maybe bad news. I wonder when/if we won't put ourselves through these doom scenarios?

Keepontrudging · 13/12/2014 19:06

No pre eclampsia, no infection... So don't know why BP is high, but they are keeping a close eye :) could just be I have a hyper toddler ! Haha. They did say again that I was the 1 in 10 that actually has a small baby, please remember ladies 9 out of 10 will not go into have one. Also IUGR is worrying, but having researched it it's not something that should have cause long term issues. Keep postive and remember they will ensure you are looked after and monitor the growth closely.

Keepontrudging · 13/12/2014 19:09

I should add; until our baby is here we don't know why he is small. It could be the papp- a or it may be something else. We didn't get the last part of cba results back due to them being inconclusive, plus our baby has had fluid around his heart (which has since gone) but these things do make me wonder if there something else causing the smallness in size. Until the end result we just won't know. It's an anxious time, but I just trying to focus on the prize now :) will keep you posted ladies !

Keepontrudging · 13/12/2014 19:09

Cvs *

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 13/12/2014 20:15

That's great news keepon. I, too, can vouch for a toddler raising blood pressure! My dd has been pushing her luck recently and it's taken a will of iron not to loose my temper.

Mslad I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets these doom like feelings (although not glad for you) I wasn't like this at all with dd, I guess any problem, even if it's small, makes you feel a bit worried and stressed.

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laurenamium · 27/12/2014 07:46

Found you again!

I had my consultant meeting and scan on Christmas Eve, they scanned for my uterine arteries. I have notches in one, and the other they couldn't get to join up. Blood flow okay with the one with notches but not right with the other one...so now I have scans every 2 weeks, increasing to every week after 32 weeks. The consultant thinks the baby will be coming early and has mentioned that they'll give him steroids if it's too early to try and keep him where he is!

My PAPP A is 2.5 so not as low as some of the others. I'm trying my best not to google uterine artery notches currently but I might start a thread at some point!

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 27/12/2014 08:09

Oh Lauren what a shock.

Excuse my dumb question; what is a uterine artery? Is it linked to the heart?

Whatever you do do not google, that was my huge mistake, it is riddled with 'bad' stories and not may positives (well that was true of papp a levels)

Sounds like baby coming early might be a good thing. At least they can keep an eye on it all with scans every 2 weeks.

Are the notches and the not linking something that can rectify itself as the baby grows?

I hope you've managed to have a decent Christmas and relax although I imagine you've been very worried.

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Original poster

KittyandTeal · 27/12/2014 08:35

Ignore most of my last response! I googled and found out what a uterine artery is, duh!

A good blood flow in one sounds positive. I guess that's a pretty good explanation of low papp a levels.

It's great that they're scanning you, and him, so regularly. At least they can pick anything up quickly and give you steroids etc when they're needed.

I do wonder if I have something similar causing my low levels. Hopefully I'll find out on Monday.

I have a feeling you and I are going to be sick of the sight of hospitals and scan rooms by the time these little pickles arrive!

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laurenamium · 27/12/2014 08:37

From what I can gather without googling the uterine artery is how the blood gets from me to the placenta, so it's not getting through as well as it should be on both sides. But baby is measuring fine at the minute and definitely moving around a lot so that's a good thing!

I'm not sure of much else, just that that on its own increases risk of pre eclampsia, small babies and still birth. I'm not sure of anything else really. I'm totally going to end up googling!

laurenamium · 27/12/2014 08:39

Oh is your scan on Monday? How far on will you be? Good luck!!

Original poster

KittyandTeal · 27/12/2014 12:40

That sounds like the same risks as a low papp a level anyway.

Great that baby's measuring well and is moving lots.

I'll be 18+4 on mon so it's fairly early for an anomaly but also got another booked in mid jan which they're keeping as a growth scan or in case they can't see everything on mon.

I've been feeling baby a fair bit now, not that means anything until we get the all clear from the scan on Monday.

I wonder if they'll check my uterine arteries too, might ask them to if they don't. Makes sense that that might cause low papp a levels.

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