bad news

Idk much about ur situation but I'm here for support & to talk. I also received bad news today in an unethical way & started freaking out at work. After having 4 mc's & now finally being almost 18 weeks pregnant, my screening test came back as having a risk for down's syndrome. I'm shocked. I'm only 27 & have fought so hard to be a mama. I know we have two different situations going on, but I think we both share the feelings that it's the worst thing in the world to think something could go wrong with our babies. I pray u have a strong support system & that it turns out to be something very insignificant & that ur baby will be born healthy soon. You'll be in my thoughts.

thanks. i feel like my body is a failure. we were sure if id be able to have a baby bc of how small i was and health issues. but hes managed to stay strong. i am at loss for words bc doc says dont worry. and when bad news like this is said to me i feel like its my fault. hes been doing so good above average on growth since the preterm labor issue. i just want him to be healthy. thats all ive said in the beginning. and i know doctors and tests can be wrong but still its the idea of not knowing. and girl ds tests arent always accurate. we have to have faith and hopefully things will be ok. im at a weak point but we have to be strong for our children and we as moms will love em no matter what. i just hope they r wrong for the both of us

Im in the same boat, except its fluid around the lungs...I feel like I'm in a bad dream...they don't why its there...but just monitoring 4 x a week now...
how far along are you? I know we have to stay positive but its hard...: (

im 33weeks n four days. im so out of it from being upset i haveny been able to concentrate on anything

that's how I was, I found out last week...and everything seems like a blur...try not to look on the internet about it, that kept me up crying...the fact that we are further along is supposedly a positive thing...just make sure they watch you closely...for now on, I go back 4 times a week...yesterday was the first day I didn't cry but today I wasn't so great....I realize that this is out of my hands...and just hope for the best...nothing else we can do about it...: ( let's just try to have positive energy...easier said than done, I know

when do you see the specialist?

bump

still no call. my doc said they would contact me. im thinking about calling my doc n see if the appt was set. im really trying hard to be patient but this is rediculous if it could be something serious why make me wait. grrr i dislike doctors offices sometimes lol.

def call! they can't give u news like that and not follow up...call asap, they'd understand!

Both of you in my prayers, I wish y'all the best & hope that all is well with y'all lil ones.

Manders.. I went for my 20 week scan yesterday and we got told that our little boy has slightly more fluid on one side of the brain than they call "normal" measures at 11mm. We are going to see a specialist today and I'm going for a blood test. I know how u feel and am here if u want to talk about anything. Hope you and baby are ok xx

thanks guys. i had a few contractions off and on last night. they werent constant enough to go in but still....kinda worried bc i have no idea if i go into labor if that will affect the so called prob....

I know my drs have said that its better for the baby to develop and stay inside for as long as possible, as long as the fluid is not increasing or spreading....this is why you should be getting monitored already!

Hey there.... Its certainly hard to take news like that I understand completely. My girls brain lateral ventricles were enlarged at 31wks (20wk scan was fine)- this is sometimes noted as extra fluid on the brain. A more detailed scan showed she had severe ventriculomegaly (vents measured 18mm, but not hydrocephalus as her head size was fine, so no build up of fluid causing the dilation)- they gave us a poor prognosis and asked if we wanted to terminate and if so then "no point doing further tests as its not cost effective"... We opted for further tests.

We had a fetal MRI which actually showed she has agenesis of the corpus callosum - she is missing the part of brain that connects the two halves), and the ventricles are large as they are filling up the space.

We had a normal delivery (albeit complicated due to my uterus stopping contractions) as there is no treatment. If flyid builds up due to hydrocephalus then babies will be monitored and can have shunts placed to drain the fluid. In our case there was no treatment.

She has had lots of tests and another MRI at 10wks old. She is coming up to 5months old now and developmentally very on track. We.ve had issues with "low tone", cow milk/soy intolerance, reflux and now food aversion (as she associates the bottle with pain) and currently half oraly fed and half by nasogastric tube. But these can happen regardless anf is not necessarily connected with her neurological condition.

As far as cysts, I know from reading many can go away on there own, or be benign (not cause problems).

Babies brains are amazing and find ways around abnormalities!

Dont lose faith or hope. We still dont know what the future holds for our girl, anywhere from major disability right through to being fine and healthy... But whatever the outcome my gurl is the best thing in the world to me, she amazes me everyday!

Hang in there hun, and ride out the emotional rollercoaster that you are on.... It gets easier! I used to blame my body for failling her everyday, now its every few days....

If I can help in anyway please let me know. Our journey is blogged at www.ourdeviation.blogspot.com

XO

And good luck with your labour!

11Steph87- In my readings many bubs with mild dilation early on will either self correct, or not cause any problems. I found newer research suggesting the "normal range" for ventricles to be increased to 12mm as below this isnt associated with complications.

I'm sure you will be monitored closely and no increase in head circumference (over the normal) or size of the vents will mean great news for you!

Again, if I can help at all let me know. I did ALOT of reading medical journals etc about both hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly (as severe ventriculomegaly was our inital diagnosis , vents of 18mm)...

Sending positive thoughts your way!

shakenbake- u have def made me feel so much more at ease! I'm still so worried, but the slightest bit of hope is much appreciated!
my lil man measured fine at 20 weeks, but to recheck my placenta previa at 28 weeks his lateral ventricle measured 10mm (which Dr told me was just at the max for normal) but enough to recheck and do the torch test (to check for infections that may have caused brain damage to baby) I've made the mistake of looking into ventriculomegaly online, and although some websites give good outcomes, reading the bad ones is heart breaking.
we find out in 2 weeks the results of the Torch test and have another us to check for any further enlargement.

I will definately say a prayer for all those who are going through the same emotional struggle as me. please keep my husband, lil man and I in yours.

Countryma- I'll certainly be sending positive thoughrs and prayers your way.... But rest assured, 10mm is not associated with problems! As I mentioned new research suggests increasing the normal range to 12mm as there are very very very few problems associated with vent measurements below this, and parents to be go through so much worry for nothing (not saying its nothing, but you know what I mean!)....

I also had the torch screening and a late amnio at 32wks, all came back clear. "just one of those things" in our case...

In my journey i've come across adults with dilated vents who found out incidently who have lived very normal lives, the psychiatrist I worked with (i'm a mental health nurse) even told me he has read much research about many geniouses (cant spell, clearly i'm not a genious!) With mildly dilated ventricles! Unfortnately he was less encouraging when our diagnosis changed to complete agenesis of the corpus callosum...

Keeping everything crossed for you!

Please keep me posted! And yes, googling can be scary, but I wont say stop, as I never did myself!

well so far it doesnt seem to be serious as they have me acheduled with a specialist next tuesday. i have my original dr appt the day before so if it was really something serious theu would prob bump it sooner. my back is preparing for labor i think bc my tail bone and lower back hurt n feel out of place. he has dropped some. the dr said if i went into labor that they wouldnt stop it so even if i do go into labor ill still have to deliver. he will be at least 5 1/2 lbs on the plus side so and im sure his lungs should be ok cus i was given shots to develop them early at 29 wks. either i know hes about to make an appearance

def keep us posted!!

Phew.... Well thats at least reassuring in itself!

Definately keep us posted

Shakenbake thankyou for your advice :-) you have definatley put my mind at ease

And so glad you're lil girl is ok.. She sounds like a fighter!

Glad I could help! I like to continue to check in and help offer info to those I can as it was a super scary and difficult time for us, going through testing and the unknown. Well, thinfs,are,still very unknown for my girls future but at least I have her here with me and can see her learn and develop, it makes it a bit easier....

One thing that I was told, which didnt initially bring me comfort, but now does is that babies pic their parents. I now feel blessed that Matilda chose us, she had faith that we could provide the best future for her no matter what that is!

i go to see the specialist tomorrow
my doctor said theres a tube in his cerebellum area that is measuring abnormal. usually its about a ten n his is a 14. it could be a cyst or a sydrome. but she said he could be jist fine or there could be nothing wrong with him. i hope i get good news ive had so much bad stuff happen to me rifht now im on the edge of a break down.

yay no brain issues. im so happy i could cry. hes healthy as a horse lol thank ya for the thoughts n prayers. ill continue to pray for u guys