Special Needs

follow-up testing for ventriculomegaly - any advice?

Hi everyone,

 Due to various complications with my pregnancy (uterine didelphys, gestational diabetes), I have been monitored by the MFM quite closely since about 18 weeks.  About a month ago, during a regular growth US, they mentioned that the baby's head was measuring a little bit ahead of normal.  At the next US, the doc said she was concerned about the size of one of his ventricles and that she would be monitoring it during my weekly BPPs.  Finally, yesterday, she decided that it was time to do some more testing.  The ventricle in question is not huge - most measurements are a bit above 1cm (which is the cutoff for ventriculomegaly), whereas most previous measurements were low-borderline. 

They are sending me to have screening done for CMV and toxoplasmosis, scheduling a fetal MRI this week, and possibly an amnio at my US next week.  Obviously, I am not happy to be dealing with this and am worried about the baby.  But I'm doing a good job so far of not stressing and just focusing on things one step at a time.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with this sort of testing / diagnosis.  If so, is there anything you would suggest I ask about or make sure to get clarification on?

 Thanks,

Mary

Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers

Lilypie Premature Baby tickers

imageimage

Re: follow-up testing for ventriculomegaly - any advice?

  • Sorry but no experience here.  I just wanted to say good luck.  I can only imagine how stressed you are.
  • Loading the player...
  • Our son was born with severe hydrocephalus. I wouldn't worry if i were you...1 cm is not bad at all and I've heard of many cases that just resolve themselves by birth.

    Worst case scenario, you child would have to have a shunt placed. I know it can be a very scary thing to hear, but really a shunt is not a big deal. The surgery is pretty simple and routine and with the vents only being  a little more than 1 cm (my son's were about 45 at birth) your child most likely would not have any delays whatsoever!

    best wishes :)

  • OctBaltBride are you going to have the MRI done? Thursday my Dr was doing an ultrasound and said that the babys left ventricle had slightly increased fluid. The dr wants me to go get a fetal MRI and after talking to my aunt who is a OBGYN nurse in the hospital she said that its common for babys to have fluid in their brain and it usually resolves itself.  My measurement was only 1.1 and there are no other abnormalities and my whole pregnancy has been healthy and good.  I have a coil in my heart and they said its ok to get an MRI but there is a possible chance that the coil could get to close to the magnets and have an arching effect, now me and my husband are stuck deciding weather to risk something worse happening or just waiting to have another US and they can remeasure the ventricle or I can have blood work just to make sure I havent come into contact with any infection. What was your outcome and what do you think? How did they do the MRI?
  • I had exactly the same situation, and all the tests you described. Do you know whether your doctor has been able to see the corpus callosum on ultrasound?
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"