Definitely Team Pink...and marker found for Downs

OSUWifey09

A/S was today, and while we got a guess at our last u/s at 14 weeks, the tech confirmed today that we are definitely Team Pink. I am beyond stoked that baby is a girl and, more importantly, she looks healthy.

The MFM did find a bright spot on her heart, though, and that is a marker for Downs. He did other measurements and said that she doesn't have any other indicators, and he offered the options of an amnio or more bloodwork. I'm not quite sure which way we'll proceed, but it's not like this potential for Downs will change anything - we just want her in our arms come January.

Anyone else deal with something like this [a bright spot on the heart]?

Arrgcr

Congrats on the girl! No experience with the second part sorry.

fredtheredhead2

Congrats on Team Pink! I have no experience with the downs markers, but I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and sending positive vibes that everything checks out okay.

valigrl21

Congrats on Team Pink! I don't have any experience with the markers but I will keep you and your family in my T&Ps.

BuckeyeMommy4

Congrats on your baby girl! No experience to share.

apickett925

Congratulations on your little girl.  I don't have experience with a spot on the heart, but I think most people are opting for the blood work (Mat21 or Harmony tests) instead of amnios now because there's no risk of harm to the baby and they're very conclusive.

alinafed

Congratulations! Hope everything goes well with the second part, try not to worry too much!

HullGut

I don't have any experience with this but I wanted you to know I will be praying for you guys. I'm excited that your having a little girl. This pregnancy has certainly not been easy on you so far. I will be thinking of you.

dland0201

Congrats on team pink! No experience to share with the downs markers.

km_md

Congratulations on team pink!! I'm sorry that you have the added stress of a marker for Down Syndrome, but I hope that it turns out to be nothing ((hugs))

Winnieella

Congrats on being team pink. I have no experience with Downs, but I will keep you in my thoughts. 

KristaBelieve

Congrats on your baby girl, good luck with your follow-up appointments.

HappyDoc

Congrats on your little baby girl! Will be sending lots of positive thoughts and energy your way.

LadyJ2949

Congrats on you lil girl! I don't have experience with downs markers so unfortunately I can't help. I did, however, find this. Hope it helps!

https://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/second-trimester/qa/spot-on-babys-heart.aspx

twobluelines

Congrats on your baby girl. I hope that the rest of the tests bring some conclusive news. I know with many of these marker s they are more common in "normal" babies than indicators of a conclusive "abnormality"

heather52904

Congrats on your baby girl! No experience with Down's markers, but I hope everything turns out okay.

rowanthefrog

Can you do the Harmony test? That should tell you with 99% accuracy if your baby has down's. I don't have any particular experience with that marker.  I hope everything turns out ok. Congrats on your baby girl!

A

lolinshag

With DD, she had a calcium deposit on her heart (a bright spot in the ultrasound). No other markers except my sister did have downs, but not the inherited kind.

We saw a fetal specialist and they did a couple of ultrasounds over about 2 months. They said that in most situations like this the calcium deposit slowly fades away. Sure enough it did and DD came out just fine!

Hope that helps!

ETA: having only one marker barely increase the chance. It is time to worry when you have several markers, which it doesn't sound like you have. But even if she comes out with downs, it is not the end. Downs kids are just as great as any other(just ask their families!). Some have severe cases and some have very mild cases. If it does turn out she has DS, I can give you a mother to talk to who can help you out with questions. (DHs cousin)

TNgoldengirl

We don't know yet, as we haven't had the a/s, but a blood test came back with greater than normal risk for downs. 1/250 instead of 1/1200, for my age under of 25. Hoping to know something next week with the scan and Mat21 results. I'll be thinking of you, that everything is great!! Congrats on baby girl!

Mrs.Salt&Pepper

Congrats, welcome to team pink! I do have a little to add for the markers...

With DD1, she had the same thing, however, she had "spots" on her heart, as well as her brain. With time, these faded away and she is absolutely fine. 

Now, with this baby, the u/s tech found a spot on her heart. My doctor said not to worry, because of my DD1's history. She even said that often times babies have the spots during ultrasounds that are earlier than 20 weeks, and they tend to fade over time. She said her son had the same thing, and he is healthy. Try not to worry. My opinion is that the doctors are always overly cautious and tell us what the absolute worst case scenario is, just so we can be prepared, but a lot of times, it turns out fine. 

And, as PP said, having a child with Downs would definitely be a struggle, but a joy. I work with special needs children and they are my favorite ones to work with. 

But, calm your mind and think positively, I am sure your darling will be just fine! 

csandroo

What a beautiful heart and soul you have to be so in love with your daughter. You're very brave, I'm sure it's scary to hear something like that and all the what ifs that come with it. You have all our support and positive thoughts here! I got the Panoramic blood test down to check for Downs and similar chromosomal things ... 3 weeks for results to come in but just a simple blood draw. Keep us posted.

gina0485

Aw, congrats on baby girl! I will be hoping for you that she is born healthy but it sounds like you are prepared to love her no matter what the outcome is. Hugs!

bluegreeneyes11

No experience but wanted to offer good vibes! Congrats on team pink!

sugarland726

Congrats on a daughter!

ksonne

Congrats on baby girl! This LO has an enlarged kidney, which is an indicator for Down's. But I had the Panorama test done at 11 weeks and the test came back without any abnormalities. We have an u/s in 6 weeks to take another look at the kidney. We have no concerns about Down's, just a concern for a healthy kidney. Do you have an option to do maternal/fetal cell analysis? That way you could focus only on the heart and not on Down's. I will be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts!

BabyHokie2014

Had an echogenic foci (a soft marker for DS) with DD and because it was just one, there wasn't cause for alarm. We weren't offered any additional testing. Now that the blood test is so widely available, I'd maybe consider that because its so noninvasive and definitive. With this LO, we got 1/173 odds for Downs (much better odds with the other trisomies and spina bifida thankfully), so we chose to do the blood test (today) and should hear back within 2 weeks and will know with 99% certainty.

Edit: it was a long day yesterday and I forgot to include Congrats! Little girls are awesome!!

Coco1236

Congrats on your baby girl! I'm sure everything will turn out fine  

Deblondie1

Congrats on team pink! I have no experience with DS markers. Sending positive thoughts while you decide on your next steps (testing type or decline either).

mrsjenni

Congrats chica!  The echogenic focus on the heart is SUPER common.  Don't even sweat it.  We had it with both Brynn and Reid and I fully expect to see it again with this baby.  It was hilarious because the doctor came into our u/s to double check the heart and when he asked us if we wanted to do "further testing" he was shaking his head no and smiling as he was asking us. Ha!  He said he sees them in almost every u/s but just has to ask.  He never recommends any further testing unless a lot of markers are found.

Seriously, don't even worry about it.  Congrats!!

Kismc

Congratulations on your little girl! I hope all goes well with future testing.

LindsB314

Congrats on team pink! Sending T&P'S that everything is fine!

LuGal623

Congrats on your baby girl!  Thoughts & prayers for some definitive answers and the joy of seeing your little girl in January!

jaclynwas17

Congrats on a baby girl! I do have experience with a spot on the heart. At our first A/S at 16w (early I know, that's why we have to go back), the only marker they found was an Echogenic Intracardiac focus, which is that bright spot on the heart. It freaked me out a ton, but I love my baby and again my husband and I can't wait until he's born! My risk changed to 1/550 which is still very low and I had the quad screen which came back negative for any chromosomal abnormalities. A nurse explained it to me as a 1/550 risk means they'd have to get 550 women who are all 26 (that's how old I am) ALL with the bright spot, and one of us would have a baby with Down Syndrome. When I asked about the MaterniT21 test, she said do it if you want, but think what else could you spend $300 on...diapers? It wouldn't matter either way, so I'm just gonna see what our next A/S says in two weeks.

ChuggingWater

Congrats! Thinking of you in the upcoming days while you and your h decide whether or not to pursue additional testing.

Cara1024

Congrats on Team Pink!  So excited about your little girl! I have no experience with the downs markers either, but I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Armyratt

Congrats on girl!! I have no experience with the market.

jldubb0626

Congrats on Team Pink! DS had inflamed kidneys in the womb which I was told was a soft marker for Downs as well. But since my quad blood work came back good and there wasn't anything else that indicated Down's, we didn't do any other testing. He came out just fine.

AnnikaD20

My LO has an echogenic focus (bright spot) too. It's super common- I think something like 3% of babies have them. If that's your only marker, it doesn't mean very much. There's the blood tests if you want the peace of mind. I ended up doing the mat21 test because they found 3 different markers on my LO, and I really wanted to know one way or the other. (I also wanted the baby just as much either way, but wanted to be more prepared if I had a Down's kiddo. And I'll admit I was a bit relieved when the results came back for normal chromosomes.)

I'm sure they also told you that it's not a heart defect and doesn't have any effect on heart function. They almost always go away by themselves before the baby is born. I had a follow up U/S today (4 weeks from my original A/S), and the focus had already faded to where it was much less bright than bone. It should be undetectable in a couple more months.

growingmybun

Congrats on your little girl. We also have a little girl who showed a bright spot on the heart during the Level II ultrasound. The doctor told us that most of the time, she doesn't even mention it because without other indications of DS, it is almost always absolutely nothing. I also had a Mat21 which showed low risk even with advanced maternal age. I think that you will have a clearer picture after your upcoming tests, but my gut says no cause for worry.

SvedkaStoli

Congrats in your girl! I know that soft markers can be false positives so I hope they disappear. Best of luck!

citybeach

Congratulations on your little girl! I hope all goes well with the follow up, thoughts and prayers.