Midwives/Doctors/Patients-Anyone know anything about placental blood flow/increased risk of IUGR/Pre-eclampsia?

[TinyTimLivesinVictorianSqualor]

Sorry, I'm being a pain.

Had my scan thingy today, and was told the placental blood flow wasnt right. All I know is there is a higher risk of IUGR/Pre-eclampsia, does anyone know anymroe or what bearing this might have on my VBA2C plans???

the experts on pre eclamptic stuff

the lasy on the end of this site (Dawn) has read pretty much paper ever as well and really knows her stuff

Have they offered you further specialist doppler scans ? They can show how the blood flows from placenta through the baby's body which can show up IUGR - which can be a symptom of Pre-eclampsia. I don't know much about it other than having had a dd with IUGR.

How many weeks are you ?

If there was an issue the baby might have to come early which, given that you presumably won't be induced, could mean a CSec. Sorry.

They havent offered me anything, I was told that it wasn't as they had hoped, given blood tests, for what I don't know, and referred, that's it.
I knew I should've asked mroe when I was there but I had expected it to be ok.

The scan today was a uterine doppler btw, and I'm 24weeks.

you nremember from yesterday I had results they didn;t hope for at about this time. they monitored baby's growth and that was it.

I am really sorry - it is very scary when results 'aren't as they hope'. I hope there is more reassurane along soon.

(btw the baby concerned is now 8 and moaning about his wobbly tooth!)

My issues with dd were picked up at 22 weeks and I made it to 37 weeks before they decided she needed to be born. It was a quite worrying 15 weeks though so I know what you are going through.

However, it doesn't sound like they are rushing you an appointment/further scan. Was there any indication of size of the baby (was it plotted on a growth centile curve )?

They said growth was fine, I haveto see the whole team (basically at my hospital they have a different section for this type of thing) on jan 3rd, two weeks away, so although it's not rushed it's pretty soon.

BBBeee, did you manage to have a normal birth then?

yes - well I had the pessary thing at 38ish weeks but otherwise normal standard delivery.

exact same situation with dd - different doc who didn't want to induce - she was born under her own steam at 39+ weeks.

I had this with ds1 and was dopplered every week from 27 weeks until he was born at 35 weeks. They told me that blood flow was normal and I didn't have pre eclampsia but I have found out later at pregancy 2 and 3 I did. Your raise in blood pressure is relative to the first blood pressur you have when you see the midwife etc at 12 ish weeks. I was told that regardless of what it was the thing to look at is the bottom figure and it shouldn't rise by more than 30 in your pregnacy, any more than this then there is a problem. In general they are looking for a figure 100 plus but mine only got there at the end despite 100 being twice my normal rate.
Anyhow I was referred on to a specialist doc at the local hospital who did all the doppler scans and ds1 had stopped growing at 27 weeks and only realy put 1lb on in the next 8 weeks and was born at 3lbs 13oz. He was in special care for 1 week and then his ability to suck kicked in and he never looked back. It was a worrying time and I used to go to be monitored every 2 days at the hospital for his heart beat and movements but apart from the growing he was fine. He was a natural delivery and very fast for a first one at 4 hours
With ds2 I was monititored every week from 26 weeks and he can at 32 weeks for a different reason and the dd I went through the same, was told to expect her at 30 weeksish and was induced with her at 40 weeks so you never can tell.

The worst bit is IUGR has a terrible name and association ie the retardation bit but it is more common than you think.

Good luck and keep strong and ask the questions to get the outcome you want

Thanks for your experiences.

best wishes (and I do honestly adore the name)

Thanks BBBee.

Me again - not sure I have much to add but here goes!

I discussed the doppler test with my consultant not long ago (with view to subsequent pg). It is a test which indicates whether you may get pre-eclampsia/IUGR but is not at all a certainity, it means they will want to keep a close eye on you. As I said on your other post, I had "reduced flow" but ds was a very good weight at birth (5lb4 at 34 weeks, delivered due to severe PE) and hadn't suffered from IUGR at all. I expect they have taken PET bloods (that's what they called them at my hospital) where they check a whole range of things to determine whether you have pre-eclampsia; they may have just wanted a base-line so that if you develop PE symptoms they will be able to see how your blood results have changed, as everyone will start from a different base-line. Off the top of my head I remember they looked at liver function, platelets (for clotting), white blood cell count, haematocrit (red blood cell count), creatinine (to check kidney function), electrolytes... can't remember any more (I had this done a lot and am a research scientist so had a vague interest!). There will probably be a lot more blood tests, bp and urine checks.

It must be a terrible worry to you but the important thing to remember is that you are being closely monitored now, so there is very little chance of you or the baby being put in danger like the first time. Admittedly it might be a problem for your VBAC, but at the same time you might not develop any PE symptoms and be able to carry to term.

Sorry I have waffled on for ages! Am not a doctor or midwife, only a patient, so whilst I think what I said is correct don't take it as gospel!

Sorry also meant to add that the main bearing on your VBAC plans is if and when you develop PE or the baby's growth slows down - which I don't think anyone will be able to tell you at the moment. If you have late on-set, mild PE you may still be able to go into labour naturally.

I'm sure they have told you this but any visual disturbances, headaches, sudden swelling (esp hands, feet or face) or pain under your ribs go to your mw or hospital straight away.

Right will go away and shut up now.

Liege, it helps a lot to hear from people who had similar experiences, thankyou.

I've had headaches and a kind of ache under my ribs for quite a while, but havebeen to docs about it a few times and always had low blood pressure.

I'm hoping it all works out well and that I can still have my VBA2C, I'd already said on my birth plan that I refuse a CS unless absolutely necessary and as it's a VBAC, induction isn't really an option, so I don't think it's going to change much unless any of these conditions actually occur. Fingers crossed they don't.

Have just googled uterine doppler (can you tell I'm at work? ) and found the following stats from fetalmedicine.ac.uk:

13-38% of women who have restricted blood flow by uterine doppler at 24 weeks go on to develop PE; 7-31% go on to develop IUGR. So if you look at that positively odds are you'll be fine!

I think you're right - you can't make any firm plans for birth just yet (but isn't that true of any pg...)

Yes, definitely, we never know what's round the corner. I think I'll just speak to my cons. in detail about it and prepare myslef for an early birth or a cs just incase. Thankfully they told me when I go back in Jan to expect to bethere for 3-4 hours so it can all be discussed in detail so at least I know I wont be rushed in and out with no time to talk.
I think the key to any pg is to just be as informed and prepared as poss.