PAPPA A - low levels

My midwife has told me I have low levels of PAPP-A (Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A) meaning the placenta might not be operating as it should. She's said it's only a marker from my screening and that everything should be fine and all they do is monitor the growth of the baby via extra scanning. However, I am having a ridiculously anxious pregnancy due to previous MC and fertility problems. Has anyone else have this and if so what are your experiences? Any advice on extra meds I can take or anything to help my nerves ..
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Hi Harriet, I have low PAPP-A too! My midwife absolutely freaked me out by repeatedly telling me I was at high risk of a low birth weight and that the placenta might not be working properly, which made me want to cry and felt like I'd somehow failed at my job to produce a placenta good enough for my baby. I did some research and it turns out it it's not so bad and tbh the extra scans are quite welcome. You should have been told to take a low dose of daily Aspirin (150mg) to improve blood flow to the placenta. If not, perhaps speak to your GP and ask for a prescription. The vast majority of women go on to have normal full term pregnancies and give birth to babies of a normal weight. Please feel free to message if you want to chat more, as I don't know anyone else who has had this either 😊. I don't believe it's associated with pregnancy loss in anyway.

@Eleanor thank you so much! Yes aspirin I’ve read now online about this - I’ll get on this immediately. And yes my reaction was exactly the same. So pleased everything’s going all ok with you - fingers crossed I’ll be the same ♥️

There’s lots of support groups on Facebook that I joined and it’s full of positive stories! I have the same and it’s helped my anxiety so much. You’ll get so much extra care🫶🏼

I also have low PAPP-A results and trying not to worry too much about it as I’ve read so many success stories online xx

Hi Harriet! I am in a very similar position to you. I was told I had borderline low Papp-A Levels and from 12weeks I’ve been taking 150mg of aspirin every night to help increase the blood flow through the placenta by thinning the blood. I was told my baby might be smaller and I’ve had an additional scan booked at 32weeks. I was completely freaked out thinking the worst. I also have had a previous miscarriage and I was already extremely nervous. However, I can confirm after my 20week scan I have an extremely healthy perfectly sized baby. I’ve still got my additional scan booked in and I still have to take the aspirin but I’m definitely feeling much better xx

@Amelia I'm curious, did your midwife specify taking the aspirin at night? Mine just said take it daily so I've been taking it after breakfast as that's when I take my prenatal vitamins and it was an easy way to remember! But I read somewhere else online that it's best to take after evening meal, so I'm wondering if I should switch the timing x

@Eleanor when she called me to give me the results she told me it was best to take it at night, just before bed. She mentioned it was best to take it in the evening. I used to take all my supplements first thing in the morning prior but after I got told to take the aspirin I switched it up and I take them all in the evening now xx

Good god what would I do without you guys - you have no idea how much better your kind comments have made me feel. All the love ♥️

@Harriet honestly lovely it’s only normal to feel nervous especially with what you’ve been through. I was exactly the same. You’ve got this 🩷🩷xx

I have low PAPP-a and was sooo stressed about it. I was prescribed baby aspirin to take daily from 12+5 weeks, I had a private scan at 16 weeks and baby is exactly the size they’d expect. My friend also had low PAPP-a and was told baby was likely to be born small and possibly early, she had a healthy baby boy at 8lb 9oz born at 39+4 😅

I also have low PAPP-A! I take 150mg of aspirin after meals every night. I have to have growth scans and was told baby might be on the smaller side xx

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