What is low PAPP-A?

It just means that the placenta is not working as well as it should be something to do with the protein levels but doesn’t mean that anything is wrong it’s just a risk factor for low birth weight babies and high blood pressure for yourself, I had low Papp-a and my baby was not small or anything it’s just a risk factor more than anything so don’t worry, they will monitor your baby more regularly for growth more than anything else x

@Olivia Exactly. Just a risk factor picked up on to ensure women are being monitored more closely. Just to be absolutely crystal clear for the OP, it can be *associated* with a placental issue, but in the majority of cases the placenta is fine. 😊

They’ll check the cord of your placenta too and if the blood flow isn’t as well as it should be they usually prescribe aspirin but you don’t need to do anything there’s nothing that you’ve done but like I said it’s more a risk factor more than anything being actually wrong x

Thank you both so much for your reply, I really appreciate it - I’m off the back of an ectopic and then miscarriage and it was just kind of “ah you have this but we’ll check again at 20w” and I didn’t fully understand what it was, so as you can imagine - panic mode set in! Appreciate both of your replies 💞 @Claudia @Olivia

I actually had really similar when I was told I had low Papp-A. It was brushed off, very casual nothing to worry about! I was told I would be prescribed aspirin to take, I never was and ended up buying my own. I had three growth scans towards the end of my pregnancy and baby girl dropped on the chart each time and was measuring small, so I ended up being induced just before 38 weeks. My induction was really positive and the birth was too. She is happy and healthy now at 20 months. Good luck! X

Have they prescribed you aspirin? X

I joined a support group on Facebook and it really helped me. Google sent me in a panic but there are lots of positive stories on the support group 😊

Second the Facebook page, can find the link for you. So many positive stories on there it will really put you at ease!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/129843767631323/?ref=share Xx

@Lia M nothing as of yet, just a “monitor and see until 20 weeks” except the next monitoring is at 20 weeks haha

I also had low papp-a with my first, he was born a bit premature (36+1) and was really small, so was my placenta but apart from that everything was fine. This time around they asked me to take aspirin as a precaution, funny as when I asked for it with my first they brushed it off too. I spoke to my consultant and she said it's especially crucial between 12-18 weeks as that's when the placenta really develops. As long as you stick to the 75-150mg daily it has no negative impact. So if it makes you feel better you could probably take it. I know a few people, including my consultant, who did it as a precaution and I honestly wish I would've with my first.

please try not to worry to much, i had low papp a with my now near 7 month old, was so worried at first i got prescribed aspirin made sure to take it had a couple extra scans and she was born at 40+6 weighing 8lb 8oz a whole pound bigger than my first baby that i didn’t have that with 😂 she’s now nearly 7 months and is a little chunk and perfectly healthy, try not to google or over think it ☺️xx