Very low PI and RI umbilical artery readings. Help!!

[hamburgers]

I'm just going through my hospital notes and noticed at a 28 week growth scan my PI and RI readings were out of "normal range" and when plotted on the graph both were below the 5th percentile.

PI 0.73
RI 0.54

I'm panicking that the ultrasound guy didn't say anything about this?!

I'm trying to look online for more information but it's all quite technical and confusing. I don't even know what PI and RI mean!

Can anyone help me? Should I be worried?

I'm trying to monitor the baby's movements and keep questioning whether movement has reduced or it's all in my head after reading my notes!!

I've had a late loss previously so I'm really anxious about all the things that can go wrong!!!!! Also my DD was SGA born on 2nd percentile.

Hopeful bump for the evening crowd...

Hello, just wanted to provide some reassurance although hopefully someone else will come along soon with a bit more knowledge to confirm! I had regular scans at the end of my pregnancy - I’ve now had my baby so don’t have my notes to double check, but pretty sure I had low PI on some of my scans and it’s not a cause for concern. I think it relates to blood flow resistance through the cord, so there is a ‘normal’ range but they are concerned if the number is high as that would indicate a blood flow issue.

I’m pretty sure I’m remembering that right, and hope that provides some reassurance! If there was anything to worry about, I’m sure it would have been picked up. Wishing you luck for the rest of your pregnancy!

Also wanted to say I’m so sorry to hear about your previous loss, it’s completely understandable that you feel anxious. My baby girl was SGA, born at 37 weeks on 3rd percentile - she’s now almost 4 weeks and doing fine!

Thanks so much for replying @Corilee2806. There's quite a bit of conflicting info online with some saying low PI and RI readings indicate problems associated with IUGR and stillbirth. Having had an SGA baby and a stillbirth before I'm obviously panicking!

Have decided to come to the hospital to get checked out as worried about lack of movement. Really shitting myself.

Yes I meant to say that if you’re still worried of course you should get checked as the info online is so confusing and unlikely to reassure you! Hope everything is ok for you.

Glad you have gone to the hospital about reduced movement, I hope everything is ok and you don't have to wait long to be seen

So bloody typical - one or two kicks all day, send myself in to a panic... 5 minutes before I was due to be seen baby decides to have a party in my tummy and monitor is now showing loads of movement.

Feel like I've wasted everyone's time and have stressed myself out all day over nothing!

Hi OP just wanted to say that I also had this with a scan I had at 28 weeks, all my Doppler readings were under the 5th centile but no one really explained it to me so I did a lot of reading up on it. Obviously nothing can be as good as talking to the professionals but I later discussed my understanding of the numbers with two different consultants and both confirmed that I was correct so I'm fairly confident that this info is accurate.

Basically the lower the Doppler pressure measurements the better. It measures resistance in the cord, and how easy it is for blood and therefore nutrients and oxygen to flow to the baby. If the direction of blood flow is normal (which it will be unless it says otherwise on your notes) then there is no such thing as your readings being too low. The lower the better. I have read some papers that suggest low Doppler pressure readings are strong negative predictors of pre-eclampsia i.e. If you have low readings you are less likely to develop it.

The thing they are checking for is high readings, as this shows increased pressure and therefore potential difficulties in oxygen and/or nutrients getting through to your baby.

Hope this is helpful. But of course if you are worried about movements then definitely get checked out again!