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

Low Papp-a - HELP

1 reply

TheAnxiousMum · 21/07/2025 14:47

Hi All! So for a bit of background I am a type 1 diabetic. I have a healthy 16 month old baby boy whose pregnancy was smooth sailing. Apart from him being on the large side so requiring a c section. In January of this year I had a late stage loss at 23+2 of another baby boy. No one knows exactly why this loss happened. I am now pregnant again (currently 14+1) and will get extra screening particularly of my cervix this pregnancy from 16 weeks to check for cervical incompetence. Anyway I’ve had the screening for down syndrome etc. and results have come back low risk. However, my placental hormone (I am assuming Papp-a) has come back low at 0.38 (she advised their cut off was 0.41). She said this can be linked to a higher risk of pre eclampsia and growth restrictions. She said she wasn’t particularly worried about either as I haven’t experienced them in previous pregnancies and baby was actually large first time round. She said they’d recommend aspirin and extra growth scans - both of which I’m going already because of my diabetes. She also said they don’t think there’s any link from this to my previous loss. She didn’t mention the increased risk of pre term labour but Google did (Google is not my friend). She did say this could just be my normal level, my previous pregnancies were at different hospitals so no idea what my levels were in either of those. However obviously I cannot help but worry. I guess I’m just looking for other people’s stories and experiences with low Papp-a. Thanks in advance from a very worried Mama!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
andanotherproblem · 21/07/2025 23:07

Hi, firstly I am so sorry for your loss, that must have been so hard 😢

I had low Papp-a in my previous pregnancy, as you mentioned I had to take aspirin until I think 32 weeks, had extra growth scans and saw the consultant every 4-6 weeks. Never had an issue, they said the risk would be low birth weight so extra scans are to monitor and bring early if needed, there was never a need for that she was growing fine. I do think she’s on the smaller side, she weighed 6.6lbs so not tiny but length ways she is tiny, she’s 15 months now and in 6-9 months clothes but I suppose we don’t really know if that’s the reason, I’m only short (5ft) myself, regardless it’s not an issue and HV’s have no concerns at all.

i know it’s hard but try not to worry.

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