U/S today - more concerns, LONG

Discussion in 'Pregnancy Help' started by ReallyTiredMom, Dec 4, 2006.

  1. ReallyTiredMom

    ReallyTiredMom Well-Known Member

    I think I just need to post my thoughts here as perhaps someone else might be going through this. I am just so worried...

    I've posted other reposnses in the past, but not a summary of my hospital visit. I've had some concerns along the way with the twins, starting with a discordance of around 25% at 20 weeks. We never did the genetic testing (except the nuchal fold - which was fine at 20 weeks). The growth of the two babies continued, but the discordance continued as well. Around 23 weeks, they found that my cervix had shortened to 1.8 but I decided to wait it out and decline getting a cerclage. So far, so good on that. Cervix is still short, but unchanged and I am at almost 30 weeks. THEN they found that baby B had some blood flow issues though her cord. The doppler showed signs of decels, or the distolic rate showing inconsistencies. We knew at that point we needed to watch fluid levels b/c if amniotic fluids started to decrease (which was an nindication of possible flow reversal) , it would ean they would have to do a c section pretty much right away. They also noted that the babies were quite tiny - 3rd and 7th percentile. I have been a mess ever since. Well - good news - the amniotic fluid levels have remained good. So, another bullet dodged. And, over the past 3 weekly visits, the decels have not quite diminished, but have certainly declined in occurrance.
    Which leads to today's u/s - baby A has grown a lot - she's now estimatated to be 2lb.10oz (still small, but has increased to the 24th percentile). Baby B is still tiny - 1 lb.10oz. And the scary part is that the discrodance has increased to 34%. So definitely IUGR. But she did grow a little and has moved up to the 4th percentile. The part that has really got me worried - and this is where I am wondering if anyone else has had this come up - is that Baby B showed the left lobe of the brain slightly enlarged. Normal measurement is around 10, her's was at 11. The doctor found no other symtpoms of calcification in the brain or liver (not sure why he looked for that) so he said we just have to watch it closely. I just don't know what to think of that - and he didn't have any real answers either. I haven't seen anything on the internet about this. It has not shown up on previous u/s. Bottom line if Baby B slows/stops growth, they will do a c section. He's really hoping I will go to 37 weeks (so am I!) but boy, can anything else come up?! I have already chewed off all my fingernails!

    Thanks for letting me release all this stress - obviously, we are hoping and praying for everything to turn out o.k.
     
  2. ReallyTiredMom

    ReallyTiredMom Well-Known Member

    I think I just need to post my thoughts here as perhaps someone else might be going through this. I am just so worried...

    I've posted other reposnses in the past, but not a summary of my hospital visit. I've had some concerns along the way with the twins, starting with a discordance of around 25% at 20 weeks. We never did the genetic testing (except the nuchal fold - which was fine at 20 weeks). The growth of the two babies continued, but the discordance continued as well. Around 23 weeks, they found that my cervix had shortened to 1.8 but I decided to wait it out and decline getting a cerclage. So far, so good on that. Cervix is still short, but unchanged and I am at almost 30 weeks. THEN they found that baby B had some blood flow issues though her cord. The doppler showed signs of decels, or the distolic rate showing inconsistencies. We knew at that point we needed to watch fluid levels b/c if amniotic fluids started to decrease (which was an nindication of possible flow reversal) , it would ean they would have to do a c section pretty much right away. They also noted that the babies were quite tiny - 3rd and 7th percentile. I have been a mess ever since. Well - good news - the amniotic fluid levels have remained good. So, another bullet dodged. And, over the past 3 weekly visits, the decels have not quite diminished, but have certainly declined in occurrance.
    Which leads to today's u/s - baby A has grown a lot - she's now estimatated to be 2lb.10oz (still small, but has increased to the 24th percentile). Baby B is still tiny - 1 lb.10oz. And the scary part is that the discrodance has increased to 34%. So definitely IUGR. But she did grow a little and has moved up to the 4th percentile. The part that has really got me worried - and this is where I am wondering if anyone else has had this come up - is that Baby B showed the left lobe of the brain slightly enlarged. Normal measurement is around 10, her's was at 11. The doctor found no other symtpoms of calcification in the brain or liver (not sure why he looked for that) so he said we just have to watch it closely. I just don't know what to think of that - and he didn't have any real answers either. I haven't seen anything on the internet about this. It has not shown up on previous u/s. Bottom line if Baby B slows/stops growth, they will do a c section. He's really hoping I will go to 37 weeks (so am I!) but boy, can anything else come up?! I have already chewed off all my fingernails!

    Thanks for letting me release all this stress - obviously, we are hoping and praying for everything to turn out o.k.
     
  3. becky5

    becky5 Guest

    [​IMG]Wow, that's a lot for one mommy to handle. I wish I had some advice, maybe they can link this post for you. I'm sending positive thoughts your way. [​IMG]
     
  4. akameme

    akameme Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    my baby B also has IUGR, but as long as he continues to show growth, my dr. has been positive. we have our doppler study tomorrow (i'll be almost 33 weeks) and hopefully we won't find anything.

    i don't know about the other item your dr. identified, but as Becky said, I'm sure the moderators will cross post this to the health issues special needs forum to see if anyone is familiar with your daughters condition.

    sometimes stuff shows up on the u/s and it's nothing.
    my dr. thinks my iugr is likely caused by a placental issue, so we won't know until i deliver.

    overachiever may reply to this post, she is dealing with similiar issues.

    keeping good thoughts,
    miriam
     
  5. Overachiever

    Overachiever Well-Known Member

    I'm there with you with exactly the same s/d ratio, cord blood, fluid, discordance issues. I don't think they've measured brain lobes...at least not since my last big level 2 us, like 8 wks ago. I'm now wondering if that's something they should be doing???
    At my weekly doppler study (next one tomorrow - Akameme, good luck at yours!), they check the cord flow, heartrate, and fluid levels. Also head circumference, 'cause I like to know. It's only about 10 minutes and then a consult with the peri.
    Tomorrow I'll ask about hemisphere/lobe size.

    Hang in there; we've made it this far! [​IMG]
     
  6. AWillow

    AWillow Well-Known Member

    All I can offer is a Hug [​IMG] and the hope that everything will turn out ok for you and your babies. hang in there!
     
  7. ireland37

    ireland37 Well-Known Member

    I'm sorry you're going through this and I pray everything will be just fine. [​IMG]
     
  8. kimber074

    kimber074 Well-Known Member

    I'm sorry you have to go through all this...just wanted to offer hugs [​IMG] [​IMG]and prayers.
     
  9. ReallyTiredMom

    ReallyTiredMom Well-Known Member

    Sara - I might be describing the brain lobe thing incorrectly - my husband listened intently and I just try to remain calm when they start talking about all that stuff. The 'technical term' is an increase in size in the lateral ventricle of the brain. I think it might be something they don't necessarily measure, but if it looks enlarged on the u/s, they do look into it. So I am sure your u/s have not shown any concern hence they hadn't had a reason to meaure this.

    I am hoping it is nothing and goes back to normal!

    Thanks for the prayers well wishes, everyone!
     
  10. Heathermomof5

    Heathermomof5 Well-Known Member

    Bless your heart - I hope and pray that it is nothing. [​IMG]
     
  11. rrharrod

    rrharrod Member

    Hello,
    I have never posted on this site before, but read it all the time. I PMed you with more info, but what your are describing is ventriculo megaly. We are experiencing the same thing with baby a. I know it is really stressful, but there is alot of encouraging information in all of the studies out there, especially when your baby is measuring at 11. You are considered the high end of normal, and some neuro specialists even consider 11 and 12 within the normal range. There is just not enough information out there. PM me at anytime. I am by no means an expert on the matter, but we have met with alot of specialists on the subject. We got an MRI at about 23-24 weeks, which showed no other sign of brain abnormality. The prognosis of isolated ventriculo megaly is really good. I would ask your peri about maybe having an MRI for your peace of mind. It really helps with the nerves. Other than that, it is really a wait and see thing. Believe me, I am going crazy. I really feel for you. I don't know how I would deal with everything that you are going through on top of this. But it is definately more likely than not that nothing everything is fine. I hope this helps.
    Rebecca
     
  12. happymel

    happymel Well-Known Member

    Sometimes things correct themselves. I am not familiar with any abnormalities that can be caused by a ventricle being a little larger. I thought the cause for concern was hydrocephaly or microcephaly, which your baby doesn't have. I'm hoping and praying that it will be within normal limits at your next u/s. I was told at 7 weeks that my little girl baby wouldn't make it because her sac was too small. The next u/s showed that it was then normal. I hope you get good news at your next u/s. Try not to worry.
    Melanie ( 22 weeks with b/g twins)
     
  13. Ali M

    Ali M Well-Known Member

    I also had a Baby B with IUGR. Hers was due to a 2-vessel umbilical cord and TTTS. As long as our TTTS issues remained fairly stable, what we watched for on her was slowing growth. As long as she kept growing we were okay. She finally slowed enough at 35 weeks that we scheduled my induction. She was healthier than her sister at birth and only went to the NICU for a few hours. Her small size was probably probably a stressor that accelerated her development. If your Baby B's growth slows, you will probably be offered steroid shots before the c-section. That will help mature the babies' lungs before birth. I have no experience with lobe development but I hope you can get some good answers on that. I'm so sorry for all the worry you are having to go through with your pregnancy but it's wonderful that you've hit that all-important 30 weeks milestone!
     
Loading...
Similar Threads Forum Date
10 weeks today no more bump Pregnancy Help Nov 4, 2011
I'm 37 weeks today...one more week! Pregnancy Help May 27, 2009
My fFn test came back positive today. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Pregnancy Help Apr 20, 2015
Class schedules came out today... Childhood and Beyond (4+) Aug 18, 2014
One year ago today ..... The First Year Jan 23, 2013

Share This Page