Abnormal Ultrasound Success Stories
Hi ladies,
My sister found out yesterday at her 18 week ultrasound that there are two abnormalities on her ultrasound. One, there is a calcium deposit in the baby's heart. Two, the back of the neck is a bit thicker than they would like to see. So, she is being referred to a specialist next week. Needless to say, not the news they were anticipating. They are devasated, as is my whole family.
I've seen posts before about having one abnormality and it being fine, but has anyone else had more than one and it still turned out to be ok? Or even if you had one of these things and it turned out ok, will you please share your experience? I would love to give her any encouragement I can at this point, just to get us all through the next few weeks.
Thanks, I appreciate it very much.
Re: Abnormal Ultrasound Success Stories
With my first they found a cystic hygroma (extra room at the neck) at her 12 week NT scan that was 6mm and they gave her a 5% chance of being healthy. The dumb genetics counselor (that should be fired) actually told me she would probably choke herself off and die. The first thing with extra skin you have to worry about is chromosomal abnormalities and then the second is heart defects.
We had a CVS test done at the time that showed no chromosal abnormalities (your sister is far enough along that an amnio would be used instead) and a fetal echo done around 28 weeks that showed no heart problems. I look at it as if you can get over the chromosomal abnormality hurtle, most heart problems are fixable. They can even do heart surgery in the womb if needed.
When she was born she had a little extra skin on the back of her neck (which she eventually grew into). We took her to the genetics people at childrens hospital and they haven't found anything wrong with her either. She's a happy, healthy 14 month old now with no problems.
There's a good story for you!!!
It's so tramatic to go through that during a pregnancy and I feel for your sister. This type of stuff is very common and sometimes it means nothing, but sometimes it can mean a bit more. Tell her to be strong, pray a lot (miracles happen!!), and work with the doctors. My thoughts and prayers are with you and here's hoping for a great success story for your family!!
I have a story for you that might make you feel better. at 17w 5d we had a level 2 ultrasound. 2 soft makers for down syndrome were found. they are differnt than yours (dialated kidneys and missing bones in the pinky fingers for us) The doctor moved our chances for downs to significant (I am also 35 so already a high chance) The Perinatologist then tried repeatedly to get us to do amnio, however I am against invasive testing for myself (no judgement to others, you should do whats right for you). So I decided to just come to terms with any possibility. I work with adults with disabilities and I firmly told myself over and over that I would actually be a great mother to a child with any diagnosis. I then worked over and over at calming myself and realizing that my baby is my baby no matter what and I will love her and be happy and she will love me and be happy etc.... I had a 2nd ultrasound at 23 weeks and not only was the kidney dialation gone, the Missing pinky finger bones that they harped about had "amazingly" grown in. (they even said to me"everything is normal now, you have a healthy baby we don't need to see you again) hmmm I kept thinking how odd. Then I was happy that everything looked okay. (once i was done being frustrated with my Perinatologist) We can't always control the hand life deals us, but we can play our cards well. And I believe either way it goes, she will have your support and a great child. I wish you the best
My girlfriend had a very scary pregnancy! She was told that her baby had a hole in her heart and she was a high risk pregnancy. I remember her telling me that most nights she just sat in the shower and cried because she didn't think it would turn out okay.... Well, she has a beautiful and healthy little girl!
Sending good and healthy vibes to your sister
Over the course of a few ultrasounds LO was found to have a dilated kidney, IUGR and cysts in the brain. All possible soft markers for downs. At my MFM appt he pointed out the possibility of it being a chromosome problem but didn't believe it was. At this time we also found out the cysts were no longer there.
Even with a small possibility I was worried sick but I knew I would love my LO no matter what. It might have been a lot harder than I imagined but I knew it would be okay.
LO is now a healthy 3 1/2 boy! He is small but growing well and his kidney issues are being looked at and aren't believed to be a serious issue. We find out in April what the next step is with that!
Praying for good news for your family!
*3 1/2 months
During my 20w ultrasound they found a chorid Plexius cyst on the brain. They sent me for a level 2 ultrasound. While there they saw that the cyst had shrunk, but that they found 2 other makers the calcium deposit on the heart and the dilated kidney. Well I had an ultrasound at 32 weeks and they are all gone. The doctor said that he think that that all will be well and they are no longer showing concern.
Good luck to your sister and I hope that what ever happens will be a good outcome.
I?m pretty sure what your referring to with the calcium deposit on the heart is called a echogentic focus, correct me if I am wrong though! If it is however, there was also one found on my son?s heart, in the left ventricle at 20 weeks. Although it can be a characteristic of downs syndrome, it IS actually a fairly common finding and only depending on your dr will further testing be done. (Most likely just a more detailed ultrasound looking for other specific characteristic) My Dr. when explaining this to me, 1) told me to stay off google (an attempt to lighten the mood I'm assuming with me being a ftm) but said that some dr choose to not even inform the mothers of this finding because of how common it has become and causes unneeded worrying on the mothers part, especially when they go home and start doing their own research. He actually informed me that more then likely within a couple years, this is going to no longer be considered an abnormality during ultrasound and just a regular finding because of how often it shows up, and extensive research has been done and the overall finding is at an ultrasound done at a later date most of the time no longer shows this deposit.
However I also had a Sequential Screening done at 12 weeks and the odds that were given to me of having a child with downs syndrome was 1 in 30,000 he said if those odds were lower (ex: 1 in 150) that he would then pursue even more testing to be done because it does slightly increase the odds. However, with mine being that high, he said he was obligated to offer a amino but DID NOT recommend it, and as far as he was concerned it did not change anything in reference to treatment.
On a side note, this was also found on my niece as well, my sister was told the same information as I was, and she is now a PERFECTLY happy, healthy, brilliant 4 year old. J
Thank you! Thanks for being nice about me replying, I wasn't sure if I should. But I honestly DO think of us as a sucess story, just not a typical one.
To add another positive story to the mix- My son had an elevated neck measurement during our NT scan and we were basically given a death sentence. The doctor and genetic counselor flat out told us his survival was in question and listed off tons of abnormalities he could potentially have. They completely downplayed the possibility that everything could be completely okay.
We were absolutely devastated. DH had a daughter in a previous relationship that was actually diagnosed with Downs in utero and passed away during the 3rd trimester. (Btw, in her case there was a laundry list of things "wrong" during the anatomy scan.) We feared we'd be going through this again and cried for days.
We decided not to have any further testing because DH's daughter passed away shortly after her amnio. We held out for our anatomy scan, where everything looked "perfect" in the words of our (new) doctor. The neck measurement had actually decreased and was in a very normal range. We had an echocardiogram and his heart also looks "perfect".
Of course he isn't born yet, but things have completely turned around in terms of what we're expecting from his health.
Big hugs to your friend and I hope that she receives better news with further appointments.
With my DS2 we were told he had a thickened nuchal fold. We went thru genetic counselling, Perinatologists, high risk doctors, fetal echos, but we declined the Amnio. We decided early on that termination was not an option. My risk was 1 in 60 that he had downs. I didn't know until the moment he was born that he didn't have it. We thank god, but know in our hearts that if the outcome would have been different we would love him just the same.
DS - 7.2006 - C-Section b/c Breech
DS2 - 4.2008 - Successful Vbac
DD - 5.2012 - Successful Vbac