Fetal Hydrops????

K.-

I can't be of assistance regarding this disorder either but I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that I understand how worried you are! I too was sent for a Level 2 ultrasound (with both of my kids). With my son, he was diagnosed as having a heart condition. YIKES! My first child and he has a heart condition. I was devastated. But, while he spent the first week of his life in NICU and while he was "sickly" child, he is now a thriving and brilliant boy.

With my daughter, however, I was sent for a Level 2 ultrasound and thought "no big deal, I have been through this before". Well, you can imagine my surprise and horror when I was told that my baby had a heart AND a brain problem. My world collapsed! And then the Doctor offered an abortion. I was devastated. I chose to wait and have the test re-done in two weeks and while it wasn't any better, it wasn't any worse. In that time, I had a heart-to-heart with my baby and somehow found the peace that I was looking for. I chose to carry the pregnancy to term and today, she is the smilest, happiest and most easy-going baby ever. While she does have a heart condition, it is mild and she has almost grown out of it. As for the brain problem that they detected, there have been no signs of it.

I wanted to share this with you to give you hope. What you hear tomorrow might not be pleasant but don't lose hope. These tests are fairly in-depth but the guidelines for measuring things can be off. Not every pregnant woman has these tests done and so there are inaccuracies in measurements of what is "normal". Go with your heart and trust your Mommie's instinct. I know that you are super-sensitive having already lost a child and I know that pregnancy can be a tough thing when you are dealt cards like this. Keep your head held high...you will find the answers and you will know what to do when and IF anything happens.

Good luck and best wishes to you and your family!
N.

I have never heard of this, but I just did some quick reading and that's very frustrating. There seems to be a lot about the kind that comes with the Rh factor incompatibility, but nothing on the nonimmune except that half the babies miscarry. It looks like the treatment options depend on what they decide causes it, and it looks like that's really hard to narrow down. That sucks. You're making me want to cry. I'm praying for you K..

K., sorry I can not be of assistance on this as I have never heard of it either. I just wanted to let you know that for what it's worth I will keep you and your family in my prayers and hope that things turn out for the best!!! Keep your head up!!!

Hi K.,

I dont know anything about you situation, but I just want you to know that I am praying for you and your baby and the rest of your family..After the loss of a baby myself I got pregnant again and she had a heart problem. They thought it was much worse in the ultrasound than it ended up really being after she was born.Things work in mysterious ways..Have faith.. Please update us after your ultrasound..Good Luck and we are all here for you if you need someone to talk to..

This question was posted 3 years ago. I am only responding to say that there can be hope if someone hears this diagnosis. Yes, it can be bad and as a diagnosis, it covers a wide range of severity.

My daughter was given this diagnosis at 30 weeks and had to have a C-section. My grandson has been in NICU for 4 1/2 weeks. Was touch and go for quite a while. His version included something called chylothorax.

Today, he is off oxygen but still learning to breast feed. Some other things too maybe. He still has a month until his original due date. But he is alive, so much better and there is hope.

Hi K.,

I do not know anything about the condition you described, but I wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and your baby.

With both of my children I was seen by a high risk specialist, level II US all that business. It can make you crazy with worrying.

I sincerely hope and pray that everything is fine. If you need to talk please feel free to email me.

With prayers for you and your baby- M.

K.,

I'm sorry you are being put under stress - this is scary, IF that is the diagnosis. I do have a few questions though. Are you Rh negative? did you receive your Rh immunoglobulin shot?

I'm curious what aspect of your ultrasound made him draw this conclusion. There are two forms of this. one is Immune hydrops, which occurs as a result of the Rh negative mother/Rh positive baby. the way I understand it the mother's immune system sees the baby's Rh positive red blood cells as "foreign." When the mother's antibodies attack the foreign red blood cells, they are broken down and destroyed, resulting in anemia. Hydrops can develop as the baby's organs are unable to compensate for the anemia. The heart could fail and large amounts of fluid builds up in the baby's tissues and organs.

Then there is non-immune hydrops, which is a very rare occurence. That does not mean that it's not possible... it's just rare.

Which is why I wonder what the doc saw... was it large amounts of amniotic fluid? or did the baby's organs seem to be enlarged due to the edema? If there was too much amniotic fluid for your gestational age, it could be you are developing gestational diabetes.

If it were me personally,... during your level II ultrasound today, if the technician see's it as a possibility that this will be your diagnosis, (I would ask to speak with the person who will review your Level II ultrasound if he's not the one performing it) I would ask for an amnio - they will test the fluid to give you a true diagnosis.

IF (and i stress IF) this is fetal hydrops, from what I understand, there is nothing they can do to help baby while in utero, but once baby is out, they can assist the expelling of excess fluids by extracting with a needle from around the lungs and other abdominal organs, and then assist breathing if there are signs of distress, and possibly give medications to assist the kidneys in pushing the fluids out, depending on how well the baby tolerates medications.

If you get this confirmed diagnosis, I would make sure that you deliver at a hospital that can handle any complications that may arise.

There is a chance for loss... and personally, given your history and having already had one baby go to heaven, your doctor should have been a bit more sensitive to throwing this out there. I hope he/she is emotionally connected enough to practice a little empathy for your situation. are you seeing a high risk OB?

I will pray for you and your new baby. Good luck to you... ask lots of questions, and dont leave your level II without feeling like your questions have been addressed... you should not walk out of there with more anxiety than you came in with!

Let me/us know what happens. Your friends here at mamasource can be a support system for you. You dont have to feel alone in this {{hugs}}

J.