Mass on Baby’s Neck

aritch90

So, at 10 wk 4 days, I went to my first midwife visit yesterday. I mentioned some very light spotting I’ve had (especially after sex) so she went on and did an in-office ultrasound that day. While little baby seemed to be in great shape, kicking and dancing, throwing his/her arms around, the ultrasound technician grew less comfy acting toward the end of our session. Assuming all was well, I asked for some pictures (she rather begrudgingly printed me one of the back of its head) and I was then taken to a waiting room to wait on the midwife. After around a half hour of waiting, I had almost decided that they had forgotten about me. Imagine my surprise when the midwife comes in with backup to announce that my ultrasound concerned them due to a growth on the baby’s neck. They referred me to someone else. Then the midwife stayed alone with me and seemed to try to comfort me by pulling up some pretty scary looking pictures on Google of babies with really sad deformities, announcing it’s linked to Down Syndrome, and then suggested the spotting has probably been my body trying to abort all along (and implying I will probably lose the baby)

I have an appointment with a high risk specialist this Friday but I spent all of yesterday afternoon scanning the internet, reading both success stories and stories that had very sad endings with baby passing away. Despite the bad stories, I am feeling hopeful and hanging onto faith.

Now that my wits are a bit more about me, I called the midwife’s office to request my ultrasound copy and the report. They said that I would have to wait until someone signs off on it, which will probably be tomorrow. I finally got their most helpful nurse to agree to get some extra pictures for me. I asked for measurements on the cystic hygroma, but she said their machine isn’t the best quality and there was no measurement written down. When I went to pick up the prints, they had one side view picture printed for me twice. The mass is visible but it seems to be localized to just the back of the neck...but it looks nothing like the cystic hygroma ultrasound pics I’ve been seeing online. This looks more like a solid mass on the neck, unlike the pouch-like areas in typical cystic hygroma pics. I’m now wondering if it maybe a different type of actual tumor...or if their faulty ultrasound machine is just making it look that way.

Has anyone else had a mass like this in an ultrasound pic? I could really use some stories...regardless of whether they are good or bad, as I wait to go to the specialist.

ashleyp625

Oh gosh, no experience, but thinking of you and baby!! 

abjm0325

No experience, but sending you hugs as you wait to see the specialist.

acamomma18

No experience / but like the others, sending so much love and support your way momma 💕

maelove

I’m sorry I don’t have personal experience with this but thinking about you: sorry you have this happening. Please keep us updated.

megh061816

Yes my cousin last year, her baby unfortunately passed away, due to major complications after finding out about SCT, a mass or tumor on a fetus. I'll spare you the horrible details, bc worry and stress are already are on your plate, but my cousin waited probably longer than she should have to remove the baby's growth. So if I can give any advice in this topic, is that your baby is in the safest place it can be now, in your womb, but if they suggest removing it, I'd think about sooner rather than later. God bless you and your baby and you're both in my thoughts and prayers mama

mamalama2020

I’m so sorry about this! Can you get another doctors opinion on this? It is unclear if the midwife office provided a medical diagnosis. This might be helpful so you can bring questions you have and ask the doctor. I also recommend seeking an ultrasound with better imaging capability so it can be seen more clearly and at different angles what the mass is. I hope all goes well for you and I hope you find some answers soon.

aritch90

Thanks you all so much! I went to my appointment with the high risk doctors today and really felt much better once it was over. It is a cystic hygroma but at this stage it is about half a millimeter larger than what is considered normal. There are still worries about heart defects, chromosomal abnormalities, etc but there’s also a chance it might just go away. I get my blood test results next week which will give me a better view of the chromosomal issues, and then I have a follow up ultrasound in 4 weeks. Truly hoping and praying my little baby will be fine...although we will love him/her no matter what as long as we are able.