Lletz and Low PaPP-A

[Keggles36]

Hi all

Hope you're well!

We're 13+5 weeks after ICSI treatment, and I am just panicking a bit.

I've had a lletz procedure so knew I'd need cervical length scans and had a higher risk of premature birth.

I've just found out i also have low papp-a and although I'm a midwife it's something I have very limited knowledge on. My general experience was that most of my women were fine who had it with some extra monitoring, so I should be reassured, but I stupidly googled and the internet keeps talking about loss in the second half of pregnancy and all sorts of other things I'd never heard of and now I am really really freaking out.

Any reassurance or non fear mongering articles would be greatly appreciated!

[JA-fnuk Partner]

Best not to look at Google Instead talk to your obstetrician and your midwife regarding your concerns This is a stressful time so for extra support take a look at our website fertilitynetworkuk.org Access to Support then select UK-Wide Groups and scroll to find Pregnancy & Beyond Groups and follow prompts to register Next meeting 26th June 8pm via zoom

Take care

Janet-Partner

[Kate-92]

hello, I was told at my 12 wk scan I have low Papp-a - I wasn’t given any numbers but as the pregnancy is IVF the growth scans that they would have put in place off the back of this were already booked in. At my 20 wk scan I also discovered I had a very mild notch in one of my uterine arteries which they expected due to the low Papp-a, so at all my scans now they will perform the uterine doppler to check all is well. I was told obviously low Papp-a could mean higher risk of pre eclampsia & smaller baby - he is measuring just below 50th percentile & had grown quite a bit in 2 wks from my 28wk scan to my 4d scan last weekend (I am currently 31 wks pregnant)

I did the same as you and googled… to be honest that was the last time I googled anything pregnancy related because you NEVER find anything positive it’s all scare mongering unfortunately. My midwife said that these days we test things that were never tested before and that only adds extra stress to expectant mothers (she had 40yrs experience) she said she wasn’t worried and I shouldn’t be. So I’ve just kept positive & looked after myself and baby.

Please try not to worry x

[Kate-92 in reply to Kate-92]

Just to add my friend also had low Papp-a and her baby was small I think 6lb, but absolutley fine ❤️

[Keggles36 in reply to Kate-92]

Thanks so much Kate. The ridiculous thing is that I'm a midwife and I know it means extra monitoring, maybe low birthweight and increased risk of pre-eclampsia but then all my lovely families have had fine outcomes!! I just realised I don't know much about the thing itself so Googled and scared myself half to death!

I saw a consultant who literally wasn't bothered 🤣 and wasn't even bothered about the Lletz so I felt better. They'll do dopplers and cervical length at 20 weeks!

Thank you so much for your reply, and congratulations on your pregnancy! You've made me feel so much better 😊

[Keggles36 in reply to Keggles36]

My Dad is type 2 diabetic so I'm at higher risk of diabetes (test at 26 weeks) so given that gives bigger babies it'll be interesting to see what on earth happens!

[Kate-92 in reply to Keggles36]

I had the screening at 28 weeks for diabetes too as also at higher risk due to family - all was fine thankfully x a girl I work with is 2 wks behind me and she’s been told her baby is quite large 😂 it’s all swings and roundabouts x wishing you a smooth pregnancy & congratulations 👶🏻❤️

[Kate-92 in reply to Keggles36]

I had the screening at 28 weeks for diabetes too as also at higher risk due to family - all was fine thankfully x a girl I work with is 2 wks behind me and she’s been told her baby is quite large 😂 it’s all swings and roundabouts x wishing you a smooth pregnancy & congratulations 👶🏻❤️

[Keggles36 in reply to Kate-92]

Just realised you mention extra scans - we don't get them for ivf at my trust! How strange.

[Kate-92 in reply to Keggles36]

Oh really ? I would ask, most people I spoke too when I discovered the low Papp-a had additional scans put in place specifically for growth x

[Keggles36 in reply to Kate-92]

Yeah they're doing routine low papp-a, but I didn't already have ones planned because of IVF 🤷🏼‍♀️

[IVFat40]

Hello hun, I also had low papp-a, and was 42 during my pregnancy, but didn't seem to have any negative effects from it at all. Baby showed up at 38 weeks so slightly early, but was healthy and on the 50th centile, now a healthy 22 month old. I also worried a lot about it at the time, but all was absolutely fine.

[Keggles36]

Thanks for replying ❤️ and congratulations!!!