April 2016 Moms

Echogenic Intracardiac Focus

Hi all,

I tried searching on here but could only find someone in April 2016 who had a baby with echogenic bowel. Apologies if I missed a post elsewhere!

I went to the doctor today and found out that they saw an echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) on our baby's 20 week ultrasound last week. My doctor told me there were no other markers and she didn't want to tell me because she thought it was cause unnecessary worry, but she felt she had an obligation to tell. I'm in my mid-20s and am considered low-risk. She said I could get a blood test done if I wanted to, but if they really felt it was something to be concerned about, they would tell me. From the research I've done, it seems that studies have been inconclusive and it seems to often be a normal variant, but I can't hep but feel anxious now.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did you get extra testing or just let it be?


Re: Echogenic Intracardiac Focus

  • erind228erind228 member
    edited December 2015
    Not with this pregnancy, but my son had one at his 20 week ultrasound. I had no other markers either. I also elected to do the quad screen after we found out, which came back with a low risk result. I am a worrier by nature and basically spent the entire rest of my pregnancy freaked out even though my dr. told me not to. Trust your doctor. I am sure everything is just fine. Oh, and my son is a typically developing almost four year old.
  • Loading the player...
  • There was a post about it -- @thaisac1 had this at her ultrasound and a couple other ladies mentioned their previous pregnancy had the same issue.
    image
  • @erind228 - Thanks for sharing your experience! That is good to know that you ended up with a happy, healthy baby. 

    @MrsZko - I thought hers was an echogenic bowel? Still, it is good to know that others have had a similar soft marker and had things turn out just fine. 
  • @gracehopper27 Ugh totally misread your post I'm sorry lady! Can we blame pregnancy brain lol!
    image
  • @MrsZko - yes, definitely! :) I use that all the time. 
  • @gracehopper27 and it's worst at the end of the day! Aside from the blood test, can the doctors do another ultrasound in a couple weeks to see if it has resolved itself?
    image
  • I'm 24 weeks. Found out baby had the same thing in left ventrical at 20 week ultrasound. Freaked me out! But my ob didn't suggest any follow up tests or anything - I got the impression that an isolated marker is likely not a big deal. I did a lot of googling when I got home and felt better after reading about it.

    I'm trying not to worry about it because worrying is bad for baby!

    I'm sure everything is fine.
  • I think I'm going to call back today and see what my options are re: blood testing and ultrasound. It does seem like it's not something to worry about for most people and the fact that it is still considered a soft marker is somewhat controversial. I think part of what has me in a frenzy is that my doctor didn't do a great job of relaying the info (she's really young) and the nurse told me something was wrong but she couldn't tell me when I first got there so it stunk having to wait for 30 mins and not know what it was. 

    @KSmith86104, sorry you are having to go through this! I know it's hard to relax about it. We deserve a nice cup of tea and some pampering. 
  • We saw the same thing at our 20 week scan, as we well as choroid plexus cysts. We are going back today to the perinatal clinic for a level 2 ultrasound. My OB also told me not to worry, that they see these things all the time now as technology is getting better and better. However, there is no way that I can just not worry! We'll see what happens today but I am trying to be optimistic, as all my Googling has been positive and everything else on my 20 week scan looked completely normal. 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Good luck today!!
  • I found out that they actually found 2 spots, but my doctor neglected to tell me. I decided to get a blood test done, even though it's really expensive. I feel like it will be worth it for peace of mind. Really praying everything is okay!
  • Our ultrasound turned out fine. The EIF is still there, of course, but the choroid plexus cysts were never there to begin with, in the opinion of the perinatal doctor. Whew! We feel much better. Everything else looked great and we got a super cute picture of the baby's face :)
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • That is great! Glad to hear it. 
  • Andie41 said:
    Our ultrasound turned out fine. The EIF is still there, of course, but the choroid plexus cysts were never there to begin with, in the opinion of the perinatal doctor. Whew! We feel much better. Everything else looked great and we got a super cute picture of the baby's face :)
    Amazing news! Thanks for the update!
  • gracehopper27gracehopper27 member
    edited December 2015
    Just got my MaterniT21 test results back - negative!!! :) For anyone reading later, it took eleven days total (about 4 business days) because of Christmas Eve & Christmas. 
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"