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Original poster

Worried Restricted Growth and Pre-eclampsia - left uterine artery Doppler reading

36 replies

Lilo2 · 26/09/2023 20:12

Hi everyone,

At my scan today (20 weeks 2 days), they told me I have a high left uterine artery Doppler reading at 2.04.
I’m really worried and really really terrified of restricted growth and pre-eclampsia.

Would really love to hear anyones experiences with this.

thanks

Worried Restricted Growth and Pre-eclampsia - left uterine artery Doppler reading
OP posts:
Redpanda21 · 26/09/2023 20:28

Did they read the right one?

I’ve just had a Doppler scan and mine was:
left 1.73
right 1.90
mean 1.81, above 97th centile.

Also feeling anxious as I’ve always had high BP in final trimester.

Seeing a consultant next week and hopefully get answers

Original poster
Lilo2 · 26/09/2023 20:43

@Redpanda21 Hey thanks for responding really appreciate it.
They didn’t read the right one.. not sure why?
No one mentioned seeing a consultant or anything just that because they couldn’t see the spine properly could I come back in a couple of weeks to re do the scan.

I just feel so worried as this reading is so high and I’ve already been on aspirin for ages.

Did they say why you have to see a consultant?

thanks

OP posts:
Redpanda21 · 26/09/2023 21:59

Perhaps they will redo the Dopplers (artery readings) again when you are rescanned.

I always have high blood pressure in the final trimester and had a baby on the 19th centile when born, so was already booked in with the consultant. I’ll have a growth scan at 28 weeks.

I’m also on aspirin since 12 weeks.

Your other artery may be normal and might all rectify itself as the pregnancy progresses x

LuneDArgent · 27/09/2023 08:52

@Lilo2 I just wanted to say that I'm in a similar situation with high readings. I had a Doppler scan 4 weeks ago and my result were
left: 0.95
right: 1.68

I have been referred to see a consultant (next week) and wil have growth scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks. Maybe they are waiting your next scan to have the value of the right artery? I can't help more now, I'm sorry, I'm very worried this too... But I can update you next week after seeing the consultant

CrispAppleStrudels · 27/09/2023 09:15

This happened to me with DD1. I was also on asprin from 12 weeks.

I was booked for extra growth scans at 28w, 32w and 36w. My growth scans showed that DD was dropping down the growth curve at each scan and at 37w she was below the 9th centile. I was offered induction at 39w but I went into spontaneous labour at 38w. She was born weighing 5lbs 12oz / 2.6kg, which was very small. She was classed as SGA / suspected IUGR (i think the IUGR cut off is 2.5kg). I didnt develop PE but i did develop pregnancy hypertension at 37w.

At the time it was all very worrying, but i will say that DD is now 2.5yrs. She is 75th centile for height and weight. You would never know she was so tiny at birth. She stayed on low centiles for the first 6 months and didn't really start to catch up until after weaning but then quickly caught back to where we think she "should" be (DH is 6'2, I'm 5'8 so unlikely she was ever going to be petite).

If baby is born tiny, they are often very very sleepy in the early days, but obviously its really important they feed to build up their size. So you will be advised to be very strict about making sure they feed at least every 2 hrs. We would wake DD if she was sleeping to offer a feed and put her back to sleep to try and get those reserves up.

I know ours is only one story, but hope that provides some reassurance from someone far out of the other side!

bookbathnap · 27/09/2023 09:24

I had a high Doppler reading at 29 weeks and have had 2 normal or borderline normal readings since (scanned due to other complications). Apparently it’s very common to have one random high reading. Try not to worry, I know it’s hard. Pre-eclampsia blood test came back negative yesterday. Best of luck xxx

Original poster
Lilo2 · 27/09/2023 19:27

@Redpanda21 I hope so, have lost confidence in them
slightly as I always seem
to have a bad experience.. starting from when they told me I was having twins and then that they got it wrong… thanks so much for your comments. X x

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilo2 · 27/09/2023 19:29

@LuneDArgent thank you so much for your message. Really comforting to know I’m not the only one atm, although worries me they haven’t suggested any consultancy for me or extra support… I think when I go back for 23 weeks repeat scan I will really push them to find out more and find out why they have recorded the right side. Do let me know how you get on and best of luck with it all. Xx x

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilo2 · 27/09/2023 19:32

@CrispAppleStrudels oh wow thanks so much for your message it really does help to hear your story! It’s reassuring to know that everything worked out ok and I will hold on to that for myself. Thank you again x x

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilo2 · 27/09/2023 19:33

@bookbathnap hello thanks so much for sharing your story. Can I ask what week you’ve had the preclampsia blood test and why they did it? Was it routine if you had a high reading? Thanks so much again for posting x x

OP posts:
bookbathnap · 27/09/2023 19:57

@Lilo2 Sure, I had the pre-eclampsia test because of high blood pressure and protein in urine at week 30 (just the other day actually). As far as I know it wasn't related to the Doppler results. My blood pressure is now normal as is urine.

Original poster
Lilo2 · 27/09/2023 19:59

@bookbathnap thank you for coming back to me again and so happy for you all your results are normal now. Best of luck with your pregnancy x x

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilo2 · 12/10/2023 19:31

@LuneDArgent I was just wondering how you got on? Hope everything was ok.

OP posts:
Redpanda21 · 12/10/2023 21:17

Here’s my update from my meeting with consultant.
There’s a 50% chance of growth restriction which would be the main concern as baby might need to come out but might not depending on growth curve. Goal is to get to 37 weeks.
High BP leading to pre eclampsia could be helped with tablets so less of a worry as having fortnightly checks.
Everything will be closely monitored and I’ll have growth scans at 28, 32, 36 and 39 weeks. I will see someone after each growth scan so plans can be updated if needs be.
So it’s really a see how things go over the next couple of growth scans kind of situation.

how are you doing @Lilo2 ?

Original poster
Lilo2 · 12/10/2023 21:31

@Redpanda21 Great to hear you have a plan and they were able to speak to you so soon. Really wishing you best of luck with everything. Unfortunately, I don’t have too much in way of developments. I have the rest of the 20 weeks scan today at 23 weeks 4 days and everything checked out ok with heart and spine (great news). I asked about the high PI reading again and they said they only did one side as they don’t have to do both… when they looked back on the score I had three weeks ago they said oh that is high but I can see you have a 28 week appointment to see a consultant/ have a growth scan. They told me there won’t be any appointments before that or checks I’ll just have to wait. I suppose it’s not too far off, but I can’t help to feel so anxious at risk of Preeclampsia or still birth - just scares me so much.
Thanks for letting me know how you got on x x

OP posts:
LuneDArgent · 12/10/2023 22:05

@Lilo2 I don't really have an update yet I'm afraid, but I am well, thank you for asking!
I also had a meeting with a consultant last week, but I didn't find it very useful because my midwife already explained me everything very well, and they just said the same. They explained me again about the higher risk of pre eclampsia and slow growth, but also said that there was also a good chance that everything would be fine 🤞 at the moment my blood pressure etc. are good, but they will check regularly. I will know more after my first growth scan in 10 days, I think they will check again the uterine artery resistance then. I'm 27 weeks now. The only thing that the consultant told me (because I asked), is that I could start taking 150 mg aspirin if I want to (I have never been advised to take it before). She said that it couldn't do any harm, and could help, so I have started it now.

I'm glad your scan went well today, that's a very good news! It's weird that they checked only one artery. I guess there is not much they can do now, and like me you will get more information after your 28 weeks scan. Let's hope everything will be ok for us all!

Original poster
Lilo2 · 13/10/2023 18:07

Hi @Redpanda21 and @LuneDArgent I was called into a pre term scan today due to a procedure I had a couple of years ago on my cervix and finally got some answers from an amazing consultant! Who actually asked me if anyone had spoken to me about what the high reading meant etc.
Im so happy I got to have that conversation, and they told me everything you had basically been told but to also up
on my vitamin D. In addition, she told me that it’s such a new thing and I should see it as a positive that I get extra checks etc, as there really is no way tell if it will impact the pregnancy negatively or not yet. She also told me the reason they only measured one artery is because they couldn’t see the other!

Thanks both for sharing again. Really nice to know not in this alone. X

OP posts:
Redpanda21 · 13/10/2023 22:01

I have two weeks to wait until my 28 week scan.

I did speak to a sonographer friend and he said it is highly likely the uterine artery pressure will transfer into the cord arteries as well. But might not do.

He also said it might not affect baby’s growth.

Also said it’s a wait and see situation really.

Original poster
Lilo2 · 14/10/2023 13:38

@Redpanda21 thats really interesting. I think the consultant did look at my cord yesterday and brain blood flow etc all looked ok for now so hoping stays that why. Good luck for your 28week scan, stay in touch if you like. Would be good to know how you get on x

OP posts:
Redpanda21 · 14/10/2023 14:03

@Lilo2 Definitely will keep updating. I always see threads which haven’t been updated!

Original poster
Lilo2 · 30/10/2023 09:19

Hey @Redpanda21 @LuneDArgent @bookbathnap i was just wondering how you ladies are getting on?
I hope everything is going well for you ❤.

OP posts:
LuneDArgent · 30/10/2023 11:00

Hi @Lilo2
I was planning to update last week, then was very busy at work and forgot! I'm doing well, almost 30 weeks now!
I had my first growth scan and everything looked good! Baby is 47th percentile (was 35th at 20 weeks so that's great!). They didn't check again the uterine artery resistance: they said at this stage it's not very accurate and what is important now is to check the growth, and any sign of pre eclampsia. But they checked the umbilical artery resistance, and it was good.

How are you doing? Did you have any more appointment or scan?

Original poster
Lilo2 · 30/10/2023 11:16

Hi @LuneDArgent I’m so happy to hear from you and learn that everything is going well! Really so pleased for you, that’s all great news! I’ve been going in weekly
for blood tests and checks regarding the bile levels in my blood, but they have gone down from 69 to 44 now, so just will have to keep going until I’m back under a reading of 35 - as this can be a sign of pre-eclampsia developing too. Having my consultant check in 3 weeks and growth scan regarding the Doppler reading, so really hoping I have good news as you. I will keep you updated though. Thanks again for letting me know your progress.

OP posts:
LuneDArgent · 30/10/2023 11:42

@Lilo2 how many weeks are you now?
I really hope everything will go well for you at your next scan and your blood will go back to normal🤞it's good that they keep a close eye on you!

Original poster
Lilo2 · 30/10/2023 12:44

Hey @LuneDArgent I 25 weeks + 2 days, so getting there! Starting to feel him move so much now which is lovely, especially since I have an anterior placenta so it took a while to feel him properly. ❤

OP posts: