Struggling

[Danielle95lab]

I'm just looking for a bit of reassurance or just somewhere to vent really. I've been struggling since day one with this pregnancy firstly implantation bleeding sent me loopy, then I had a UTI that wouldn't shift. Finally went to my 12 week scan and I felt great. Got excited, started making a list of baby things I need and enjoying my pregnancy. Then the midwife calls and tells me my papp-a is low. This just sent me crazy with anxiety and I'm back to square one. I've had a scan today at 14+ weeks and baby is cooking away nicely, sonographer wasn't concerned at all. I did mention my papp-a level and she just said that right now baby is doing brilliant and at 20 weeks they'll take a closer look.

I know in my heart that there's nothing to stress about right now. But I'm just so so scared and worried. My screening results came back low-risk but I just feel on edge 24/7 that someone will tell me bad news and I daren't get excited. I just don't know what to do really. Lockdown probably isn't helping cause it sends your mind wild.

I think you're right - lockdown is not helping and if this is your first baby, like me, not being able to be out and about, having a chat over a cup of coffee with a friend of family member, it is even more isolating. It's wonderful news that the scan was clear and the at the sonographer was reassuring. It's difficult to focus only on the positives I find, and I am struggling a little with anxiety myself this past week. But if you can try to breathe deeply it will help you to relax. I also find distraction is better sometimes, and turn on the telly! I hope you have a good rest tonight and things feel a bit better tomorrow, Mx

My cousins papp-a was low and one of the first things she told me when I said I was pregnant was that if I get a low papp-a not to worry. I know it's only anecdotal but her baby was on the big size so a low papp-a doesnt always mean baby wont grow properly.

My level is low for this too. The consultant said not to worry and that even if the result is low, there is only a 10% chance of a problem. She said some hospitals don't even test it. I am having some extra growth scans at 30, 33 and 36 weeks because of it. Try not to worry! I know it's hard as l get very anxious too! Try to enjoy your pregnancy x

I'm in the low papp-A club too... yay...

I've done as much research as is possible to do with only the internet to help and it seems like this is not the terrifying issue I originally thought it was. Across all studied cases there is a 3.6% chance of stillbirth HOWEVER all the studies I've seen have said that this is much less likely when the mother is a non-smoker who follows medical advice. They also suggest that socio-economic status is a factor. So if you're a non-smoker (or gave up early in pregnancy even) who is doing most of the things you're supposed to do, with enough to eat and somewhere decent to live, your baby is already much safer.

As a result of these studies, extra scans are given to monitor the growth of the baby so that if there do seem any potential problems they can get the baby out safely and in plenty of time.

The upshot is that the current studies show what would happen without intevention, but now that they know what they know and take measures to monitor and aid the baby, I suspect our only concern is being induced a bit early.

Tl;dr: modern medicine is amazing, we're all going to be fine.

Thank you all ladies! I feel like it's really ruining my pregnancy and I'm trying not to let it. I had a scan last night and over and over again the sonographer was trying to tell me that right now there's no issue, but it's like I can't be happy. I even know that worst case scenario is baby will come early, that came from the mouth of my midwife but I'm panicking. I need the 20 week mark to come around because I'll feel on edge until then.

My screening results came back as low risk but I'm still convincing myself there's a problem because I'm paranoid xx