Low PAPP-A

[jellybean218]

Hello lovelies,

Has anyone else had a pregnancy with low Papp-a? Second pregnancy, my first little boy was a good size (8lb 12oz) but this time I'm being monitored a lot at the hospital via growth scans and dopplers due to low Papp-a and my last birth was a 36 hour labour that ended emergency section so also because of that apparently. They have said that it's due to your placenta not working properly and more often than not ends up with baby being early and low birth weight.

Just wondered if any mums on here had this? And what was your outcome/experience?

Thank you in advance :) xx

Hi Jellybean,

I found out last week from my 12 combined test I have low Papp-a 0.29. HCG 2.4 which is considered high. That combined with my age 42 has put me at high risk of DS with a 1:7. Still reeling from shock and anxiety. Waiting for NIPT results....😞

Hi jellybean. I had low Papp a with my first pregnancy. I had an elective c section a week early (due to a low placenta, not linked to the low Papp a) and my daughter was almost 7lbs so no issues for me. I had more regular scans that I would have otherwise to keep an eye on the baby’s growth. Can I ask when you found out about the low Papp a? I’m currently pregnant with baby number 2 and haven’t heard anything about me Papp a so far.

I had low papp- A with my 2nd. 1st was normal and arrived spontaneously at 38+3. Had the Harmony test (normal) and the growth scans (lurking around 95th centile) and DS was induced due to reduced movements (probably nothing) and concerns about being big for me (needed ventouse to evict 25th centile 1st DC, and his abdominal circumference was above the 95th) at 38+2 and he was 8lbs then, and had quite substantial shoulders.

He's now nearly 2, and is built like a mini prop forward, and has a bigger chest measurement than his 5 year old sister, so I think I made the right decision pushing for the early induction... No issues with the low papp-A side of things.

Pregnancy was much tougher with him, had some anaemia but mostly breathlessness was caused by him sitting with his head/bum wedged in my diaphragm from about 20 weeks...

Ahh @SuperDan11 I'm sorry you've had a high result :( I'm sure though all with your little babe will be fine! I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you!  xx

@BatKat ah that's good to know then! Still a good weight! :) I have only just found out at 26 weeks at my scan.. it was the sonographer that told me why I was there. I wasn't told by anyone else, just that I needed extra scans due to my last birth. When I had my 12 week scan we got results of 1:1000 which is considered low risk. Am I right in thinking low Papp-a is to do with the placenta not functioning right? They've hardly told me anything :/ have they told you much? Xx

@randomsabreuse ahhh what a big lad! Thank you for sharing your story and giving me some insight :) xx

Low papp-A can be linked with poor growth later on, so they do the extra growth scans. I think they're more likely to induce at term (I didn't get that far with either) and there's some links to pre eclampsia??? I know I was put on mini aspirin from 20w so might be worth asking your midwife - I know the evidence gets updated quite often so it might not still be a thing...

@jellybean218thank
You 🙏🏼

I have low papp-a and have my first growth scan on Tuesday!

I had low papp a with my 2nd.
First pregnancy was completely normal. Born on due date.
Second pregnancy found out I had low Papp a so had extra growth scans - all looked pretty average. Baby was born a week early at 7,5

I had low papp a, my LO was 7lb9 at 40 weeks. They changed their mind at my 38 week scan and decided he was going to be over 9lbs and I had to be Induced at term. Messy birth and turns out I had ( to quote the midwife) 'the most waters shes ever seen'

Also they said after the birth that my placenta looked super healthy. I took aspirin 75mg from 12 weeks till 38

I had low Papp A with my son (he's now 14 weeks old) and found out at the 12 week screening where I had a high risk for DS (due to low Papp A and high HCG) but subsequent nipt came back low risk.

Low Papp A MAY be associated with low birth weights and premature birth but from what I understand it's a relatively new marker and it's only an association. When I spoke to my consultant about it, she said most people with Low Papp A won't have any issues at all but you will have extra growth scans as a precaution and they do recommend taking aspirin daily to increase placental blood flow but I believe the recommendation is to take it before 16 weeks to birth so they may not suggest it in your case.

My son did arrive almost 5 weeks early and was under 5lb but both my husband and I are small and early birth seems to run in my family so I wasn't at all surprised. The growth scans all showed no problems and he was growing fine, just decided to come a bit early!

I'm sure everything will be fine and I personally enjoyed the opportunity to see him on the extra scans 😊

I’ve got low Papp-a, was picked up at my bloods screening at 12 week scan. I’m now 20 weeks. This is my second baby- although I wasn’t diagnosed with low Papp-a or anything else (high blood pressure etc), my first had a low birth weight (5lbs 7oz) so it sort of ties in. I’m having growth scans at 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks (if I get that far!) so will see how things go. I’m getting prepared with tiny baby size clothes to take into hospital as newborn size swamped my DD last time! I had a water birth last time and really hoping that all this doesn’t scupper my chances of having one again. I’ve got a prescription of aspirin which I take daily.

Watching this thread as I’ve got my first growth scan in a week for low PAPP-A. I asked my midwife about aspirin and she said they don’t specifically say you need to take it at my hospital... I think I’m going to have to ask again now ive seen a few of you mention it!

Hi @jellybean218, I also have been told I have Low PAPP-A. I’m 23 weeks so will be having first growth scan in a few weeks time. All a bit nerve wracking as it’s my first pregnancy but really reassuring to hear stories of others on the same journey x

I had low PAPP-A with my first, had the extra scans with a consultant, baby had to be dragged out at 40+11, 8lb4 EMC. I can't remember if I had to take aspirin or not? It was treated as pretty routine. Baby now a wild and healthy 3yo, as she was from the moment of birth, and I've had no repeat of the PAPP-A with second pregnancy.

Thank you all for sharing your stories! You have put my mind at rest a little! Xx