No Fetal Stomach at 18 Week Ultrasound

I know it's hard, but try not to worry. And stay off the internet! I didn't have this, but a similar situation where they saw something unusual on an early sonogram that could have been x, y and z....and I had to wait for a month before I had another one! Of course I went online and read all the most terrible cases it could be. It turned out to be just fine, nothing at all and I now have a happy, healthy 8 month old daughter. Try not to worry, keep positive thoughts and remember that the odds are extremely high that everything is perfectly fine!
Good luck!

C.~

First off I wanted to tell you that I can understand why you would be scared. I have not had this happen to me but I can totally see why you are scared and unsure. Doctors are great at trying to assure us that everything is ok but something inside of us panics and thats ok...You are just worried about your lil one! Just wanted to let you know that I am thinking anf praying that everything turns out good for you when you go back!!! Please let us know!

Hi C.,
I'm any Ulttasound Tech, do not worry, your next scan will be fine I am sure! If there was truly no fetal stomach there would be other issues that the tech would have seen. Stay off the internet, although it has great info, you don't need to be worried.
Take a deep breath and relax, your next sono will show all is well I'm sure :o)

Yes, the exact same thing happened to me at 20 weeks - same causes, etc - exactly as your post reads. My dr gave me a choice of waiting like a month & having another ultrasound in her office or going to a specialist & having a "high" power (can't remember the exact name) ultrasound but it's very exact. I opted for that, got in in about a week luckily & everything was fine. I was like you, worried up a storm but all was fine, it's actually very common I found out that it can happen on the ultrasound. Just causes a lot of worry. I'm sure you're like me & all is fine. I gave birth to a very healthy full term baby boy 2 years ago....:)

I had the same thing happen. But, when I went back for the follow up scan, everything was perfect and they could see the stomach, fluids and everything else. I know its hard not to worry a little bit, but just know that your doctor and the tech are most likely right and there is nothing wrong.

Yes, you are looking into the negative possibilities too much.

Isn't it Mark Twain who said that worry is like paying on a debt you may not owe?

Give yourself a break and wait the couple of days for the second ultrasound.

You can ask your doctor if you can see a perinatalogist. This a maternal/fetal specialist and typically sees women for high level sonogram who are at high risk or carrying mulitples. This doctor can do a high level sonogram and it is a doctor not just a tech doing the sono.

Talk to your doctor, be worried if they are. Please don't worry yourself needlessly.

Stop lookin on the internet it just makes your worrying worse

Stay away from the internet while you are pregnant! Trust the wisdom of people who are trained to help you and your baby. Please know that they would absolutely tell you right now if they suspected anything was wrong.

Remember, your being upset doesn't help your sweet, unborn baby or yourself.

C.,
When I was pregnant with my first I had to go to have a special ultrasound because my OBGYN thought my amnio fluids were low. I went to the specialist who, as he was doing the ultra sound, said "oh.... hmmmm.... oh...." I asked him what was wrong and he said my babies brain wasn't developing properly! He told me the left and right sides were fusing at all, etc. I guess I should have been very concerned but I just felt inside that nothing was wrong. After a lot of other problems trying to get a fetal MRI I went back to my OB and told him to send me somewhere else, I wanted a 2nd opinion. I went and had the 3D ultrasound done and the dr said she had no idea what the specialist was talking about, my babies brain looked fine..."and look at all that hair she has" she said. =} My little girl was born with absolutely no problems and she did have a TON of hair!
Sometimes our "modern" technology isn't always perfect. Wait until your next ultrasound/sono and see what they say. I know it's easy for all of us to say not to worry but don't go looking for more information that will stress you out more. Thankfully you don't have to wait too long to go back.
Good luck!

Hi Christina,

I would also like to echo those who say not to read the internet and to trust your doctors, nurses, etc. The internet has a way of putting worry in your mind. Personally, I decided to stop reading up on things on the internet when my daughter was 6 weeks old and it's the best decision I have ever made... I wished I had cut myself off from the internet searches sooner! :) I'm sure all is fine and that your little one is doing great!

I have been doing fetal sonos for 10 yrs. Totally normal. Try not to worry. 2 days is an eternity while waiting, but I'm sure everything will be ok.

Worrying will not change the outcome of whatever is going on, except to cause you stress that neither you or the baby need. Please try to find a way to suspend your worry as much as possible until you can get confirmation that everything is normal. The internet is good for all the information it can give you and it can also give you every scenerio possible, more to worry about and speculate over. Trust that all will be just fine, regardless of the outcome. Believe me, once you are a parent, there will be ACTUAL things to worry about, not just 'what-if' things. Breathe!

I echo everyone to stop the internet searches, and Becky W worrying changes nothing...hard to do and a I speak from experience. I too had something similar had too much amniotic fluid and the ultrasound showed a "small" stomach. My child did have the esophagus attachment problems. My doctors were awesome and monitored me...my child was born and did have to have an operation, but she is amazing and all is well and normal. Again.......... wait until the next ultrasound, 99% of the time it was a bad read..........second stop the worrying, focus on the other things...I know VERY HARD, but it will be best for you and the baby. If it turns out differently please know you can talk to me. Hugs to you.

DO NOT BE AFRAID. Fear is powerful, and works just like faith. If you fear it you'll cause it to be; if you have faith you'll cause it to be.

Your next ultrasound is only two days away. Do not worry about this, and go looking for information that will "prove" something bad may be wrong. Stay positive, and have faith that God will take care of you both. Negative emotions only harm you and the baby, they don't help.

So chill out Mommy...everything is OKAY. :) Repeat it out loud to yourself: My baby is healthy. Say it as often as those fears try to surface. Because its the truth! Your baby is healthy and well formed.

Psalm 139:13-14 "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Yes, I had the same issue - turned out to be nothing. However, I did not sleep for 3 days and was on the internet 24X7. I know it's hard to do, but, relax and wiat for the next ultrasound. Most likely was positioning!!