[mlyster]

Not so great news today.

Baby L has a soft marker for Trisomy 18. A choroid plexus cyst in the brain. My risk of Trisomy 18 (usually incompatible with life) pre-ultrasound was 1/3054. Now that we have this soft marker it is 1/337. I know that is still a small risk but it is scary and heartbreaking. I had blood drawn today to hopefully decrease our risk again. I don't really know what we will do with the blood work. If the result comes back good for us then we will not take the chance on an amnio. What I don't know whether we will risk the amnio if we get a higher risk from the blood work. With my past history of miscarriage we will have to discuss the risks vs reward of it.

I didn't really have a lot of time to decide on the blood work today because it had to be done before 20 weeks gestation and the baby was measuring 19 weeks 6 days yesterday (so basically I HAD to do it today if I was going to do it). If we had more time to talk about it and discuss it with my doctor we may not have even done the blood work. I know the tests are just more screening tests and not actual diagnostic tests so all the blood work will give me is another risk number.

However, after we got back from having my blood drawn I got a call from my doctors office (the receptionist) telling me that I needed repeat anatomy scan in 4 weeks. My doctor did not mention it to me when he called me so I assume he either did some research or just decided it was the best next step. So I go back in 4 weeks - hopefully after good blood results. I do see my doctor in 2 weeks so I am sure we will talk about what it all means a little more. As far as I know we only have the one marker which is a good sign.

I can't help but wonder "why me"? Haven't we been dealt enough rotten cards in the past 18 months? Isn't 4 losses enough for me to have to deal with? I am sure I will spend the next 4 weeks wondering all of this which means it is another 4 weeks that I don't get to be the excited pregnant woman that I long to be. Another 4 weeks where loss and heartache are the primary topics I think about. Anyway... I have rambled enough.

So that is what is going on with me and Baby L right now.

[Elijah'sMommy]

Aw hun, I'm sorry you are dealing with this. <<hugs>> I know how scary it is, especially with history of loss. Was everything ok with the heart, lungs, kidneys? Eli showed cysts during his scan at 20 weeks, but my doctor eased my mind by explaining that the cysts are normal in development. Often the are gone by the anatomy scan, but if not, they usually are gone by the follow up 4 weeks later (Eli's were gone by 24 weeks and he is perfectly healthy). The cysts are supposedly only a concern for trisomy 18 if there is an issue with the heart, lungs, and/or kidney as well. If you ever need to talk, please feel free to pm me.

[MommyPoky]

I also had those brain cysts at my anatomy scan, and my doctor scheduled a follow up scan for 6 weeks later...at the second scan, the cysts were gone. I also scored low on the risk at both the nt scan and the second tri blood draw. My baby isn't born yet, but we are pretty sure she doesn't have trisomy 18 from the follow up ultrasound. Good luck, I know the waiting is hard. But a low risk to start with is a really good sign.

[MarinaAndCharlie'sMommy]

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. Praying that your b/w comes back low risk.

[CandaceDianne]

Thoughts and prayers!1

[Lyz]

thoughts, prayers, and hugs to you!!! I know the worrying is scary enough! Hope the b/w comes back good.

[MommaLee]

Hugs! My t&p's are with you.

Here is a post by another grad from the other week just in case you missed it.

http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f4...exus-cyst.html (Anyone with experience with a choroid plexus cyst?)

[*Mommy2Camden*]

I know how scary it can be when you find out there may be something wrong. I had an abnormal afp4 test that showed my son's risk of having Downs Syndrome was 1/220. I was terrified, scared, & had SO many questions. There were no markers on the u/s and we didn't end up doing an amnio. I've heard of those choroid plexus cysts going away on their own as the pregnancy progresses. Try and think positive (I know it's SO hard) and you will know more in the upcoming weeks. Just take things a day at a time.

[mlyster]

Thanks Ladies. As far as I know the cyst was the only marker. But I did only talk to the doctor for about 2 mins on the phone. I fully assume that he would have told me if there were more markers but it was a pretty rushed conversation. The ultrasound tech was really quick (about 35 mins) and didn't spend any extra time anywhere (head, heart, kidneys, nothing) so I cannot tell for sure from what I saw if there are any other markers. After the ultrasound, had I not gotten the phone call, I would not have thought there was anything wrong. After hearing about the cyst it did occur to me that she measured a small black spot on the brain which I now know was the cyst.

Anyway, again I thank you for your quick reassurance that this can turn out ok. Of course, my heart is having a hard time getting to where my head is.

[hearts.0nfire]

you and baby will be in my t&p. I really hope the blood work comes out good.

[Tammyms]

Oh Michelle, I will definitely be praying for you and Baby L! I hope everything works out and I'm sure it will, but message me anytime you need to, I'll be there to listen!

[jensma]

Michelle I'm sorry that this is happening to you! Really though i feel strongly that everything is fine with your baby. Hang in there and my thoughts are with you.

[fromustobaby]

I hope that everything works out...
as everyone else had said, those arent terrible odds at all...we had 2 girls in my DDC who had worse odds, and both babies came out perfectly healthy

[chrissy323]

Michelle you and baby L are in my thoughts and prayers!

[mlyster]

Thanks Ladies. The thoughts and prayers must already be working because I feel much better and Baby L has been kicking up a storm for the past 24 hours.

[Etph007]

[~*Jackie*~]

Keeping everything crossed for you!

[baby:mama]

Sounds like Baby L is reassuring you too. Thoughts and prayers are being sent your way.