Echogenic Bowel

LilTiger15 · September 2014

I had my 20 week ultrasound a week ago. I saw my midwife today who went over the results of the scan. She said they diagnosed the baby with echogenic bowel. Has anyone else been told this for this pregnancy or a previous pregnancy? My midwife didn't seem concerned b/c she said most diagnoses of this type end up being nothing, but of course, I am still naturally concerned. I Googled it as soon as I got home. Worst case scenario, it can mean the baby has Trisomy 21, 13, or 18. It can also be cystic fibrosis, congenital infection or gastrointestinal problems. Due to the fact that this came up during this ultrasound, I will go for a follow up ultrasound in 4 weeks.

Dani_Love · September 2014

No advice but thoughts and prayers for you and baby

HailsMom · September 2014

Did you have any other screening done? NTS? AFP? Freecell DNA? Depending on the results of these would give you a better idea of how concerned you should be for the possible gentic issues.

HailsMom · September 2014

Just doing a quick search, it looks like more often than not the cause is that the baby has swallowed blood that was mixed in with the amniotic fluid. Looks like 75% of cases where there is actually echogenic bowels turn out to be normal healthy babies at birth.

kefttsc · September 2014

FX for a great outcome and I'm sorry you have to wait so long to get more information. Dr. Google can be so scary!

LilTiger15 · September 2014

HailsMom said:

Did you have any other screening done? NTS? AFP? Freecell DNA? Depending on the results of these would give you a better idea of how concerned you should be for the possible gentic issues.

No, I didn't elect for any additional screening before 20 weeks.

racheltherose · September 2014

I got the same thing today, but my doctor didn't seem at all concerned considering everything else measured normal. I have a level 2 ultrasound coming up with a specialist to be sure. Fingers crossed it's nothing for both of us!

LilTiger15 · September 2014

racheltherose said:

I got the same thing today, but my doctor didn't seem at all concerned considering everything else measured normal. I have a level 2 ultrasound coming up with a specialist to be sure. Fingers crossed it's nothing for both of us!

Definitely fingers crossed for you too!

HailsMom · September 2014

If you are truly concerned about possible outcomes I would try to discuss with a genetic counselor. I know there is a blood test that can check for CF. You might still be able to do one of the freecell DNA (Panorama/Harmony/ect) type tests to check for the others. Or I think you might still be in the window for an Amnio. You would have to discuss with a provider about what the risks are with an amnio vs risk of one of these things being positive. The blood draws should be relatively risk free, but the Amnio would be able to tell you definitively about the trisomy issues.

Also to take into consideration - what would you do with the results? CF and Trisomy 21 would make for a rough life for baby, but still can have a good quality of life. Trisomy 13 and 18 are pretty much fatal and if baby is actually born with one of these - they generally don't live long - so you have to ask yourself what you would want to do in that case. If you think you might terminate depending on the results - I would push for more information asap. The window for making these decisions is closing. If you wouldn't terminate either way - then I would just wait for the scan in 4 weeks and hope it was nothing.

LilTiger15 · September 2014

HailsMom said:

If you are truly concerned about possible outcomes I would try to discuss with a genetic counselor. I know there is a blood test that can check for CF. You might still be able to do one of the freecell DNA (Panorama/Harmony/ect) type tests to check for the others. Or I think you might still be in the window for an Amnio. You would have to discuss with a provider about what the risks are with an amnio vs risk of one of these things being positive. The blood draws should be relatively risk free, but the Amnio would be able to tell you definitively about the trisomy issues.

Also to take into consideration - what would you do with the results? CF and Trisomy 21 would make for a rough life for baby, but still can have a good quality of life. Trisomy 13 and 18 are pretty much fatal and if baby is actually born with one of these - they generally don't live long - so you have to ask yourself what you would want to do in that case. If you think you might terminate depending on the results - I would push for more information asap. The window for making these decisions is closing. If you wouldn't terminate either way - then I would just wait for the scan in 4 weeks and hope it was nothing.

I'm honestly not super worried. I was just curious to see if anyone else was in the same situation and or previously had it with a prior pregnancy. I don't think I'll go for any additional testing. Worst case scenario and the baby does have Trisomy 13 or 18, I don't think I would want to know before the birth b/c I wouldn't terminate and it would be horrific knowing for the last few months of the pregnancy that my child was pretty much not going to make it.

chickyclg · September 2014

LilTiger15 said:

HailsMom said:

If you are truly concerned about possible outcomes I would try to discuss with a genetic counselor. I know there is a blood test that can check for CF. You might still be able to do one of the freecell DNA (Panorama/Harmony/ect) type tests to check for the others. Or I think you might still be in the window for an Amnio. You would have to discuss with a provider about what the risks are with an amnio vs risk of one of these things being positive. The blood draws should be relatively risk free, but the Amnio would be able to tell you definitively about the trisomy issues.

Also to take into consideration - what would you do with the results? CF and Trisomy 21 would make for a rough life for baby, but still can have a good quality of life. Trisomy 13 and 18 are pretty much fatal and if baby is actually born with one of these - they generally don't live long - so you have to ask yourself what you would want to do in that case. If you think you might terminate depending on the results - I would push for more information asap. The window for making these decisions is closing. If you wouldn't terminate either way - then I would just wait for the scan in 4 weeks and hope it was nothing.

I'm honestly not super worried. I was just curious to see if anyone else was in the same situation and or previously had it with a prior pregnancy. I don't think I'll go for any additional testing. Worst case scenario and the baby does have Trisomy 13 or 18, I don't think I would want to know before the birth b/c I wouldn't terminate and it would be horrific knowing for the last few months of the pregnancy that my child was pretty much not going to make it.

Throwing this out there, if you do get the additional testing and something is confirmed wrong, you can get ECI to help educate you in different types of therapies for your baby before birth. Along with some assistance immediately after baby is born.

jknallen · September 2014

Check out "momwithsparklyheels" on YouTube. She does videos and is currently pregnant with her third baby. Her second and third both had echogenic bowels.

jennjilljo · September 2014

PPs all have great insight. Fx for a healthy LO.

Cookie0875 · September 2014

FX for you.

LilTiger15 · September 2014

@jknallen Thank you so much! I will check that out

seepika · September 2014

I am going through the same situation. My 19th week ultrasound showed echogenic bowel and my Obgyn asked me to consult a high risk Obgyn. My NT scan did not show any chromosome anomaly or any other defect. Anyway, I consulted the high risk Obgyn and generic counselor who took another ultrasound and saw mild case of echogenic bowel. They suggested that I get a blood screening for Cystic Fibrosis, Fetal Infections and Down Syndrome chromosome. The last one would be a DNA test with 99% accuracy unlike the NT scan with 90% accuracy. If the results for all three tests come negative, they said it shouldn't be something to worry about. If not, the next step would be amniocentesis for a 100% confirmation for any defects. I don't want to go for that procedure and keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck to everyone who's in this situation!

LilTiger15 · September 2014

seepika said:

I am going through the same situation. My 19th week ultrasound showed echogenic bowel and my Obgyn asked me to consult a high risk Obgyn. My NT scan did not show any chromosome anomaly or any other defect. Anyway, I consulted the high risk Obgyn and generic counselor who took another ultrasound and saw mild case of echogenic bowel. They suggested that I get a blood screening for Cystic Fibrosis, Fetal Infections and Down Syndrome chromosome. The last one would be a DNA test with 99% accuracy unlike the NT scan with 90% accuracy. If the results for all three tests come negative, they said it shouldn't be something to worry about. If not, the next step would be amniocentesis for a 100% confirmation for any defects. I don't want to go for that procedure and keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck to everyone who's in this situation!

I hope you get confirmation nothing is wrong. I'm still debating what to do at this point. I have a follow up ultrasound scheduled in 3 weeks to look at it again. My midwife said I can take additional tests like you mentioned, but I'm not sure I actually want to:/

erindahlin · September 2014

I really encourage you to at least do the blood test to see if you are even a carrier of CF. My sister had CF. Knowing before birth can only help. CF affects your bodies ability to release food digesting enzymes. It doesn't just affect lungs. So if you wait until birth to test for CF your baby could have a hard time eating and will not gain weight until you supplement the enzymes. My sister wasn't diagnosed until 14 months. (granted this was the 70's it would be faster now) Until she was diagnosed she was small and frail and behind on some skills. She didn't walk until after her diagnosis and she received enzymes. I understand that you don't want to know about some of the big scary things that could be wrong, but CF is so easy to rule out if you aren't a carrier.

PeanettyGoodness · September 2014

Thoughts and prayers sent your way! I don't have any experience with this, so I can't say much. But, I am a carrier for CF and am getting fairly nervous for my upcoming A/S.

sgautschi · September 2014

Thank you for posting this! I just found out today that LO still has an echogenic focus near his stomach (they saw it on the a/s two weeks ago and had me do a repeat a/s last week to double check, it was still there), so I am going for a level 2 ultrasound soon. From what I've read it looks like it's usually NBD, so I hope that's the case for all of us. Maybe we can do an update post later after we have our follow-up? FX for all of you!

LilTiger15 · September 2014

@sgautschi I will definitely post an update after my next ultrasound. For now, I'm not going to do any testing. I'm going to wait to see what the next ultrasound looks like.

racheltherose · September 2014

Just curious if any of you ladies have heard anything further. My level 2 ultrasound is next Thursday my nerves are getting to me. My husband isn't able to attend this appointment, so I'm bringing my best friend along for support. My regular doctor told me she is not at all concerned at this point, but you all understand the feeling!

LilTiger15 · October 2014

racheltherose said:

Just curious if any of you ladies have heard anything further. My level 2 ultrasound is next Thursday my nerves are getting to me. My husband isn't able to attend this appointment, so I'm bringing my best friend along for support. My regular doctor told me she is not at all concerned at this point, but you all understand the feeling!

My follow up ultrasound isn't until October 14th.

LilTiger15 · October 2014

mrdcle said:

Our doctor saw an echogenic focus in LO's heart and sent us for the MaterniT21 test which and back negative for the various trisomies but we won't get back to talk to him till Monday. A little nervewracking but he said to not worry too much!! Fx for you and your LO!

What is the update?

racheltherose · October 2014

Mine is Thursday, feeling anxious

racheltherose · October 2014

@mrdcle Thank you! Glad you got a good update on yours!

sgautschi · October 2014

I had my level 2 ultrasound last week, the perinatologist said it was still there, but very small and looked more like a calcification. He said it is likely from when I had shingles early on this pregnancy. He told me that baby boy probably got some of the virus and this was just how his body is healing from it. It especially made sense since I still have a scar from the rash. So basically this is baby boy's scar. Anyways, he is not concerned at all, but wants me to come back in 6 weeks just to follow-up on it.

I'm glad to hear some good updates!

LilTiger15 · October 2014

I had the follow up ultrasound on Tuesday. My midwife just told me it came back perfect, they don't see anything anymore.

Dani_Love · October 2014

Awesome news!! So happy to hear it!

Want a personalized experience?

Echogenic Bowel

Re: Echogenic Bowel

Choose Another Board

Search Boards