uterine artery problem .. should i be concerned?

[floris10]

hi
im now 23 pg, and after losing a baby at 20 weeks (2 yrs ago friday) and several subsequent mc, i have been offered reassurance scans and talks with a consultant at addebrookes hosp.
so off we pop yesturday for our scan, i knew they also had to check babies measurements as the abdominal circumphrence had come up quite big at my 20 weeks scan (gd ruled out) .. anyway, to cut a long story short they checked babies measurements, all seemed ok then the sonographer looked at the blood flow to my plancenta and after consulting in "medical speak" with another colleague (and totally freaking me out) informed me that my right uterine artery wasnt working very well so the blood flow to planenta was restricted, but the left one was ok and as they went by an average it "shouldnt" (very reassuring) be a problem. as they had picked up problems with my placenta at the postmortem of my dd 2 yrs previously, i was naturally alarmed and asked the sonographer if the blood flow could deteriorate further, to which she replied .. yes it could do, we dont know really know what will happen, could have problems in 3rd trimester .. just wonderful !
so off we pop back to the consultant eager to find out more, she hardly batted an eyelid at the results so i asked her the same question, could the blood flow deteriorate/get worse .. to which she replied with an abrupt "no", and said no more despite lots of prompting .. wtf !! i guess i should be more inclined to believe the consultant over the sonographer, but thats all im doing guessing because after further prompting im still none the wiser about this all means .. i have been booked in for more scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks - im assuming to monitor the above, i really dont know .
i have also been expericing strange pains across top of my abdomen, and like an electric shock pain which comes out of nowhere to the top right .. where i was told the placenta is, i mentioned this to the consultant twice - the first time she completely ignored me, the second she just replied no, when i asked if it could be problem with the placenta!
they're supposed to be reassuring me, but they've left me more confused than ever, i feel like im not being heard and feel totally lost and out of control . would love to hear from anyone who knows anything about the problem that has been flagged up, or who has gone through it .. is it something to be really concerned about, or just one of those things that sounds worse than it is? also has anyone experienced those strange pains i have described .. just typical of me to get weird pains in strange places !!

Not quite the same, but my DD had only one umbilical artery throughout, so clearly it's possible to cope with less than the standard setup.

I was told to keep an eye on movement and to come in immediately if they lessened. I also had a couple of extra scans, like you (and she's just fine, by the way).

thank you lancelottie, think im just being pananoid and anxious because of past history

I had this, bilateral uterine notching it was called. I delivered at 35 weeks.

thank you maduggar, my notes say no notches but the blood flow reading from one of the arteries is off the graph. im kind of getting the feeling im over reacting now, after having read posts about single umbilical arteries etc .. i just panic when anything is flagged up that i dont fully understand, and my cons hasnt been the most supportive, thanks again

I was totally freaked out too, and all my consultants & midwives just shrugged off all my worries! Most of the information I found, I had googled. Good luck with your pregnancy, I hope it all goes well for you.

thanks maduggar, encouraged that it all worked out well for you in the end, although having to deliver early must have been very stressful. will see mw on monday and if no joy there, will insist to see another consultant - they are supposed to be reassuring me, but instead they have worried and confused the hell out of me, which being honest is not hard at the moment !

Hi,

I was diagnosed with bi-lateral notching of the uterine ateries which can increase the risk of IUGR which is why they monitor the baby's growth. It can also potentially increase the risk of pre-eclampsia as your body works harder to provide the baby with the blood it needs and therefore your blood pressure rises. I was given 150mg of asprin daily by my consultant at the Royal London Hospital. I was also on Clexane (Enoxaparin) as my IVF consultant puts practically everyone on that to improve blood flow to the baby. Many consultants (including my NHS one at the Royal London) are not keen on Clexane as it is very expensive and stops your blood from clotting. There was a study done that demonstrated that it prevented pre-eclampsia and IUGR. Done in Italy, tried googling but can't find it. I am on Clexane again for my 2nd pregnancy and 75mg of Asprin but this was dprescribed by my IVF consultant and my NHS consultant doesn't think I need to be on either. I will be having an extra scan at 24 weeks where they may check the uterine arteries so at that point they may change their mind. I know consultants hate google but maybe look into what is in your notes and see what the recommended treatments (worldwide) are so you can discuss. Plus you could get a scan at the Fetal Medical Centre in London and get their perspective on what people in your position generally take. Although it is run by a doctor who also works in the NHS so they may not be too outspoken. Not trying to worry you, as everyone is different but just best to know what your situation is so that you can be confident in what your consultant is saying as sounds like bedside manner is not great.