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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Low PAPP-A

36 replies

RaliaMusca · 02/12/2022 16:32

Hi everyone,

I had a call from my midwife today that my combined screening blood test from my 12 week scan showed I have low PAPP-A.

I've read various conflicting research papers about the significance of PAPP-A levels in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Having had a missed miscarriage at 13 weeks last time and lots of bleeding due to a subchorionic hematoma in this pregnancy, I am obviously very anxious.

I'm starting 150mg aspirin a day immediately and am already booked in for extra growth scans in the third trimester but I'm so worried something might go wrong.

Any positive stories of anyone who had low PAPP-A? Or anyone else going through the same?

Thanks!

OP posts:
SBR1 · 02/12/2022 20:15

Highly recommend joining the Facebook page OP. The vast majority go on to have successful & uneventful pregnancy myself included.

TabbyD · 13/12/2022 09:49

We have also just had the same result (low PAPPA) and are trying to find out what we need to do next x

mrsgtobe97 · 13/12/2022 10:15

I'm 36+1 and have low papp-a, taking daily aspirin and regular growth scans, baby is on 10th percentile so just a bit smaller but honestly it's nothing to stress about, majority of the time it means absolutely nothing x

Lockdownmum1010 · 13/12/2022 10:17

I had this. I took low dose aspirin daily until birth, and had additional growth scams from 28 weeks. Baby's growth was a little slower than they liked so I was induced at 39 weeks - baby was 6lb4ozs and totally healthy.

Mynoodlesareoodles · 13/12/2022 10:19

I had low papp-a. Found it quite frustrating as HCPs didn't seem to know a lot about it. However this was a while ago, so hope things have progressed. I took aspirin and had a 6lb 11 baby who was (and is at 9 years old) brimming with health

TabbyD · 13/12/2022 11:24

Thank you all so much for responding xxx

LittleLottle · 13/12/2022 11:48

2nd the Facebook group suggestion, I'd say based off that approx 95% go on to have hardly any effect on baby. I was diagnosed with this in my first pregnancy and that baby was bigger than my 2nd who I have normal PAPPA levels with.

changingforthebetter3 · 13/12/2022 11:51

I had low Papp-a with both of mine, had extra growth scans and saw a consultant, no issues with either x

lilroo87 · 13/12/2022 11:56

I am currently 33 weeks with my low PAPP-A pregnancy. I've had 2 growth scans so far and baby is on 50th centile, only a slight drop on the last one but they weren't concerned.
I've been taking 150mg of aspirin everyday as advised.
My next scan is on 28th when I'll be 36 weeks so hopefully he's still growing fine.
I didn't know there was a FB group but I did a lot of research and it seems the majority of people go on to have normal pregnancies with no concern and that the growth scans and aspirin are a precaution.
Fingers crossed your pregnancy goes well and congratulations x

Antiparos · 13/12/2022 12:01

I had low PAPP-A in my second pregnancy and can remember being very anxious and worried at first. They didn't test for it first time round but I imagine I may have had it then as my first was an early and small baby.

Second time I took aspirin as recommended - baby came bang on due date at just under 8lb. The extra scans and consultant appointments were really reassuring and I enjoyed the extra chances to see the baby! I was discharged from consultant led care at around 35 weeks as baby was growing well.

Please try not to worry - as others have said, all the outcomes I've heard of for women following the advice re aspirin have been great.

Bizzyone · 14/12/2022 23:00

I was testing low papp a at 12 wks too so just had extra scans at 23, 28, 32, 35, 38 wks and all fine! The midwives have been great and said they see about 1 in 4 women with low papp a now at 12 wks but most go on to have totally normal pregnancies so try not to worry (i know its hard though, i was a wreck when i got the initial results!). Hopefully the extra monitoring helps put your mind at ease too :)

Deegibx · 15/12/2022 12:54

Hello. I had low Papp-a and was on Aspirin throughout my whole pregnancy since finding out. DD is 7 weeks old and sleeping on my legs as I type, perfectly healthy :)

Tin10 · 30/12/2022 19:19

Hi @RaliaMusca, just wondering how you are getting on as I have been told I have a very low PAPP-A number (0.2) and to start taking aspirin but I'm terrified as I also have a large SCH and have had several haemorrhages requiring hospitalisation - I'm so worried to start taking aspirin and this potentially having an affect on the SCH 😞

swipe · 30/12/2022 19:38

I had low PAPP-A as well and was very worried (FTM). Baby came out super healthy and weighed 7'10. My midwife told me the precautions are just that, a precaution, and most cases of low PAPP-A come to nothing in the end. You'll likely get extra scans to make sure everything's alright - more of a chance to see your little one growing!

Original poster
RaliaMusca · 30/12/2022 21:37

@Tin10 sorry to hear you're in this situation. I know how stressful it is. I asked my midwife if it was safe to take aspirin despite the SCH and the associated bleeding and she said it's even more if a reason to take it (unfortunately can't remember why). But I remember she said I should start taking aspirin even before I got the low PAPP-A diagnosis. If in doubt, call your midwife and double check.
I'm doing great now, 17 weeks tomorrow and starting to feel baby move a bit. Still have bouts if anxiety if course but I'm just trying to go with the flow.

Oh and thank you all so much for your reassuring replies!

OP posts:
Tin10 · 30/12/2022 21:49

@RaliaMusca thank you so much for your reply that's so helpful to know! I'm going to try and call the midwife line for my hospital today and reconfirm with them I can start with the aspirin ASAP! Sending you positive vibes that everything continues progressing so perfectly! X

Susieblue18 · 30/12/2022 21:53

I had low PAPP-A with my middle son 16 years ago, also after a miscarriage. I don’t think much was known about it then and all they said was the baby might be smaller. I wasn’t offered aspirin or anything else and he was born on his due date weighing 7lb 14oz.

CristinaNov182 · 30/12/2022 22:48

2nd pregnancy, low Papp-a, both times on aspirin. First baby all well, just born at 2nd percentile, but put on weight after that.

it depends a lot on how low your Papp-a is, the lower, the higher the risks .

aspiring also needs to be started best at 12 weeks and no later than 16 to have an effect.

having more growth scans is also essential.

my 1st baby stopped growing and had to be induced, it was good to know this from scans.

PumpkinTruffles · 30/12/2022 23:38

I also had low PAPP-A - I had extra growth scans and then at 40 weeks they became concerned she'd stopped growing and induced me. They're very good at monitoring you as a precaution, try not to worry (not easy I know)

Sassy144 · 31/12/2022 09:51

I am 39 weeks and was told at 12 weeks I have low PAPP-A. I totally panicked, especially after having a previous miscarriage, but all my growth scans have been great so far, baby is doing really well, blood flow and placenta are good and blood pressure fine. As my scans have all been good (and one more left next week unless baby comes before) I've been accepted in the birthing unit as low risk and there have been no discussions about needing induction. I've been taking 150mg aspirin throughout.

Natxxxoo · 09/07/2023 19:15

hey, just after a bit of advise if possible. Pregnant at the moment currently 11 weeks and 5 days second time pregnancy. I have just received on the badger app that my PAPP-A levels are low they are 0.339. I had a not so great birth with my first also had pre eclampsia with my first born so I am just a bit anxious. I can see your offered more scans which I was going to have anyway due to the pre eclampsia but just wanted to know peoples stories please. Due to start asprin when I turn 12 weeks because of the pre eclampsia anyway. Also do you only get offered more scans from 20 weeks?

thank you

mrsgtobe97 · 09/07/2023 22:20

This happened to me, my baby girl was absolutely fine just a bit smaller at 5lbs 13oz at 39+2 😊 I did have high blood pressure near the end and did aspirin throughout my pregnancy so she got taken out a bit earlier but no one batted an eyelid really when I said about low Papp-a x

mrsgtobe97 · 09/07/2023 22:21

Also I got offered growth scans starting at 28 weeks but that was because of fertility treatment not the low Papp-a x

Natxxxoo · 09/07/2023 22:38

Ok that’s definitely re assured me I hope this will be the same for me thank you

Kimbo1974 · 09/07/2023 22:43

If you didn't accept the screening then you would never know that you had low papp-a so if it was that important I'd expect they'd screen every pregnant woman?

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