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Pregnancy

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

High risk pregnancy

3 replies

Meech21 · 28/06/2023 11:03

Hi ladies
I'm currently 16 weeks with second baby had an appointment with midwife this morning and they have said as my first baby was small at 6.2 I'm a high risk pregnancy and have to have scans every month and take aspirin everyday to increase the blood flow and could be induced at 37 weeks if blood flow isn't right.
Anyone else had this experience before?
I didn't think 6.2 was small for baby really she was born healthy and nothing was said to me when she was born that she was small

OP posts:
NatGee · 28/06/2023 12:44

Hi @Meech21 I'm a ftm so no experience with small babies, but at my last scan at 20 weeks I was told I have high uterine artery resistance and that I should begin taking aspirin too, just like you. The consultant was surprised because I have no high blood pressure or diabetes. Do you know if this is the case for you?

As for baby weight, the benchmarking standards seem to vary depending on your trust and who you speak with. They change all the time. Maybe it wasn't small back then, but now it is. It's v confusing. Also estimated fetal weight fluctuates by 20-30% so its difficult to know what's right.

Do you know what is worrying them more, the blood flow or the baby's weight? I suppose the two are correlated because impaired blood flow can cause growth restriction. I booked a private scan because Id like the blood flow into the placenta to be measured rather than the arterial resistance, that is the important bit I think

jadey1991 · 28/06/2023 20:14

Hi op, I'm in same situation as u. I'm pregnant with my 4th baby. Pregnancy is classed as high risk because I jad a small baby ( bearing in mind my daughter is 15 this year) She weighed 6.1( back.in 2008). My second was 7.6 and my 3rd was 9.6. Therefore all my pregnancies went up.in weight. However worh my 3rd I was going for growth scans because of sga. And now currently pregnant 16 weeks and I have to go for growth scans plus being monitored because my son got stuck and I had a 3rd degree tear.
Midwife said I was told at booking I should be taking aspirin but I refused because there was no need for me to take it.

YoBeaches · 28/06/2023 20:24

Yes, I had this though I was pre diagnosed with Anti Phosphlipd Syndrome which causes miscarriage through blood clottinf and placental failure.

Through the research they have identified that women with previous small babies (under 7lbs) may benefit from similar treatment even without a diagnosis - more so as you can't be diagnosed when pregnant.

So lots of women will now be given low dose aspirin and monthly growth scans plus Dopplers to listen to the blood flow and check everything is progressing well.

Once you get to 36 weeks they will then consider whether to induce if growth seems to be limited - there is a point where baby can be better off out than in. In my case I was booked for induction but baby came naturally anyway just at 37w and birth weight evidenced growth had stopped from the last scan.

It's a good thing - the treatment causes no harm but the benefits can be significant.

The aspirin is a blood thinner so would prevent any clots from Forming that impact blood flow. If they were still concerned then you could also have anti-coagulant injections which breaks down any blood clots should they form. I had this through pregnancy.

You then stop treatment a few weeks before birth to prevent excessive bleeding.

So the aspirin is becoming quite common practice now based on research. It can feel
Worrying but actually all those extra checks are very reassuring.

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