20 Week Sono, and Being Sent for Ecogenic Density Test??

Updated on April 06, 2011
K.S. asks from Dallas, TX
5 answers

For the good news! We found out yesterday that we are having a boy!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!! We got to watch him wriggle and stretch and keick and swallow for about 30 minutes and saw him suck his thumb and he kinda waved at us!
It was pure heaven! 153 beats per and was told by the sonoist that everything looked good.

Went after to talk to the Dr and he said that there is a little "spot,eco, shadow" type thing he is seeing on baby boys heart between the heart and arorta. He didn't seem concerned but went ahead and scheduled us to see the specalist for genetic counseling, a more in depth sono and very possibly a ecocardio exam.

From what I can tell ( not much) is that could be anything from calcium buildup (not bad and useually goes away before birth) or a slight chance for downs, or other issues. Now, we did not do the screening or the amino test, so not sure if we n=will need one now or not.

Has this happened to any of you or do you know anything about this?

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So What Happened?

So trying not to stress and worry, I cried last night and my husband was very comforting. Just a few minutes ago ( while he is reading his physicology book) he says " it says right here that a pregnant woman should not sit is a hot tub of 102 degrees for 15 minutes, as it can cause central nerve damage to the baby...... GREAT! Thanks babe, as I am not worried enough, and yes I like my hotish/warm baths but never fully submerged or in till I am red. I now am worried that I have boiled the baby or hurt him somehow and its going to be my fault. He( my hubby) also said, thats why you shouldn't drink coffee ( 1-2 small cups fu;ll with milk a week)... I FEEL LIKE SH*T NOW and very worried.

More Answers

S.M.

answers from Dallas on

if it were me I would not do the amnio, to much risk for introducing bacteria into a very secure environment!

we had a high risk of Down Syn. but we opted not to do the amnio just for the safety of the baby. knowing either way just wasn't worth the risk, and would not change the way we loved our child, I could easily prepare for either out come and for the most part the difference between healthy DS child and a healthy not DS child are the same for the first 6-12 months (with all due respect to DS children) both will spend the first 3 months eating sleeping and making a mess in their diapers just the same. We did go for further genetic testing/counseling (higher level Ultrasound) after our tri screen came out with a high risk (one in 4 come out that way regardless of there being a high risk or not). the Ultrasound at the Genetic Counselors office did provide better details into our son's little life, so hopefully that will give you more definitive answers to your situation. I cannot speak to your situation exactly but I did want to offer that the better Ultrasound will help a lot. Just please AVOID the amnio if at all possible, it is just not worth the risk, in my opinion (and that of my Dr.)

Best of Luck to you and your baby (and family)

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

I chose not to do amnio and was referred for a more detailed anatomical ultrasound later in the pregnancy (maybe a month after the 20 week ultrasound). The doctor who did the detailed ultrasound really knew what he was looking for and could see the heart in a lot of detail. I would say don't go crazy worrying until someone takes a closer look-- but I know it is easier said than done.

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P.R.

answers from Boston on

This hapepned to me while I was pregnant with my first son. They found a "bright spot" on the heart which could indicate down syndrome. My ob said not to worry but those 2 weeks until I had my level 2 ultrasound were terrible. At the 2 week ultrasound the bright spot had gone away and I was good to go no other testing was needed. The doctor said that the ultrasounds are so sensitive and they pick up things that are really nothing.

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

I had the same thing with my daughter, but chose not to have an amnio. Too risky. We also refused the quad screening, too. When I went in for my level 2 sono, the perinatologist was not concerned at all. There was only a tiny, tiny risk of Downs. He said that my husband or I could have the exact same marker on our heart right now & not know it. With that said, I still worried a lot & shed many tears. But my baby girl was born with no problems & healthy as can be. Good luck! :)

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J.J.

answers from Dallas on

We had the same thing with our son and a similar situations with our daughter. We chose NOT to do the amnio with either one because the risks of miscarriage were too big for us. But we did do a follow-up with the perinatalogist with my son 5 weeks later and genetic testing with my daughter. In both situations, there were indications that there was the possibility of down syndrome and other birth defects (specifically spina bifida with our daughter). Both my babies were born healthy and happy and at 3 and 1, we see no signs of anything!

It is somewhat scary and never racking when you first hear this type of informaiton. I've since learned that it is pretty common to see these things during an early sono but often ends up being nothing. You are doing the right thing by seeking out information so that you can be informed but don't worry yourself crazy over it. Good Luck!

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