More Stress

Today was supposed to be normal. I dropped the kids off at school, went and got a bagel, and headed to my doctors appointment. I’m 19 weeks, 2 days pregnant, and had my anatomy scan this morning. 

I’ve always had normal anatomy scans, and expected this one to be the same. Of course, I know that a normal ultrasound in no way guarantees a healthy, normal baby, but I’d already had four ultrasounds this pregnancy and everything has looked great. I’m feeling the baby move regularly and my belly has been getting bigger by the day. 
Before I freak anyone out, everything is probably fine. 
Our sweet baby has a choroid plexus cyst on his/her brain. These cysts are relatively common (1-2% of pregnancies) and usually disappear on their own by 28 weeks. However, in rare cases, they are a marker for Trisomy 18, which is fatal. My doctor said she has never seen a Trisomy 18 baby who didn’t have multiple abnormalities on ultrasound, and our baby looks perfect otherwise. This is definitely reassuring, but of course doesn’t eliminate all fear and worry. 
I have never done any prenatal testing or screening, but today, I chose to do the second trimester screen for chromosomal abnormalities. It’s a blood test, and is only 75% accurate, but I’m hoping will give us some peace of mind. We’ll get results in about a week. 
I need this to be ok. I already have one child with severe brain abnormalities who is facing major surgery in less than two weeks. I need to focus on him right now, and not on worrying about something that’s probably nothing. It better be nothing. 

12 Comments

  1. Erin on April 24, 2015 at 2:20 am

    Oh goodness! I'm so sorry, so so sorry. I'm happy everything else looked great and that it is a sign that this will resolve. I'm thinking about you and will be every day as we await the blood tests results. Love you-

  2. Coco on April 24, 2015 at 2:44 am

    Oh my gosh. I am so sorry. You do not need this stress right now. For what it's worth, I've had 2 friends with Trisomy babies, and both of them had significant problems evident on their ultrasounds… just like your doctor said…. it was obvious from several points of view. But that doesn't take the worry away, I get totally get that. I wish I could just hug you from here! Please keep us posted, and I will pray that everything will be okay and that the blood results can give you some peace of mind.

  3. Noemi James on April 24, 2015 at 2:46 am

    Oh Elizabeth. I'm so sorry your scan today brought uncertainty and stress. I hope that the following blood work gives you the piece of mind you so need right now. Sending love and light.

    Abiding with you.

  4. Brittnie on April 24, 2015 at 10:05 am

    I will be praying about this. . . hugs!

  5. charity on April 24, 2015 at 11:48 am

    ill be praying for you and the baby. my friend had an ultrasound and found cysts in her babys brain but like your dr her dr said the baby is fine and it will go away

  6. Down On The Farm on April 24, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    God is bigger than any situation Elizabeth. Nothing surprises Him, and this scan did not surprise Him. I am praying for your sweet baby, and for you. Don't worry. Pray.

  7. Jos on April 24, 2015 at 2:40 pm

    Ugh, my heart just dropped when I read this on my phone last night. Praying that this is just a fluke issue that you'd have known nothing about before routine ultrasounds and that baby is perfectly healthy. ((HUGS))

  8. apluseffort on April 24, 2015 at 3:48 pm

    Thinking of you and sweet baby and hoping for comforting news soon!

  9. Sarina on April 24, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    The Lord has got this…praying for you!

  10. Karen on April 25, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    Hey! I just wanted to tell you that first, I will be praying for the health of this baby! I also wanted to share my experience w this. I think you know that my first baby has a brain abnormality, too. When I was 18 weeks with my second baby, I was told that he had a choroid plexus cyst, but that everything else with him looked great. And his cyst resolved by the next scan, and he is a perfectly healthy 1 year old now! Just wanted to hopefully give you some reassurance from someone who has been there before. My MFM told me he wasn't even sure why they even mentioned it bc they are never a big deal in babies who are otherwise healthy, and they always resolve. Of course, even with his reassurance, I was still nervous. All that to say, I will be praying!! Sending you love.

  11. allthesunforyou on April 27, 2015 at 4:37 am

    Oh, Elizabeth! How scary.

    But… And here's my but…. It really could be nothing. I wouldn't have said that to you 2 years ago but after having a scary ultrasound with Bryson at my anatomy scan, and being told to wait 10 days to see the MFM, I can say from experience that it could very easily be nothing. I lost so much sleep in those 10 days and would break down in tears at random times, and then everything ended up being perfectly fine. I'm not going to tell you not to stress, because of course you're stressed! It's your baby! But I am going to tell you that you could very easily have a happy ending here, and I think you will. ��

    “Head up, young person,” and best of luck and lots of love while you wait! ��

  12. basebell6 on April 27, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    Sending prayers! I'm sure this will be fine but all you need is more worries right now! Hugs my friend!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply