Because There Is No Such Thing As Smooth Sailing August 30, 2006
Given all that we’ve been through on the IVF front, I had no expectations of a perfectly easy and uneventful pregnancy. Things have been going well, and I’m so thankful for that, but the easy road is not where I reside.
We got mixed news at today’s Level II. Let’s start with the good, because there was good news. The little guy was measuring great, a little ahead even. His little femurs and ulnas and all of that good stuff looked just fine. It was definitely good to see him again.
However, the high risk OB found an echogenic focus in the left ventricle of his heart. This is something that has no effect on how the heart is functioning, but it is a marker that increases our risk of Down’s Syndrome by about three times what it was. So instead of the 1:2094 we got after the ultrascreen, we’re now at about 1:700.
We discussed the option of an amnio, but the risk of complications is still higher than those new odds. The peri told us that the echogenic focus is found in 3-5% of normal pregnancies, so there’s still a good chance that everything’s ok. Of course that doesn’t stop me from worrying. I am the queen of worrying, ya know.
Also, we learned that I’ve got a low lying placenta. Instead of being up where it’s supposed to be, it’s about 1 cm from my cervix. There’s a good chance that it will move up in time, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on. The peri told me to refrain from exercise and sex and basically take it easy. I go back and see him in six weeks.
He also checked my cervix which is an area of my concern because of all of the manipulations I’ve had with my transfers, and it looked long and closed. He did think it was a good idea to have it checked again in two weeks, though.
I saw my OB this afternoon, and we discussed all of the above. I go back and see her in two weeks as recommended by the peri.
Today was a long day. After my OB appointment Dan and I stopped by the grocery store, and I ended up in tears in the salad dressing aisle. I know that things could be much, much worse. Neither the peri nor my OB seemed overly worried about all of the things going on. It’s not happening to them, though. They didn’t go through hell to get to this place.
I have to hold onto the fact that even with the findings from today that chances are still good that everything is and will continue to be ok. Thoughts about how we always seem to end up on the crappy side of the odds still trickle in, though. I can’t help but worry.
I guess there’s not much to be done but wait and hope. I hope that little bugger in there is/will be ok. I can’t stand the thought of anything else.
- Posted in : Post cycle #7: Trying to stay knocked up
- Author : amanda
Comments»
I don’t know if this will help at all, but a wise woman once told me to move through the worry and fear, instead of trying not to feel it. Just go with it as it hits you (even in the grocery store) and it will pass more quickly.
I’ll be saying some prayers for you and hoping you err on the side of normal this go ’round.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. You both deserve everything to go smoothly and be OK!
I am hoping and praying that it’s nothing and that all goes well for the next few months. Hugs honey. XOXO! Do you have any belly pics yet?
Keeping you in my thoughts. Gentle hugs from across the pond.
ugh, amanda. any indication that things aren’t perfect is scary. i’m staying really hopeful for you, though, that everything is really going to turn out absolutely fine and perfect.
You are right, the odds are still very much in your favor that everything is absolutely fine. And chances are very good your low-lying placenta will resolve before your due date. I wish it could all be perfect for you though; I know how hard it is not to worry.
Keep positive, Amanda. It’s their job to scare the hell out of you…if they’re not concerned, you shouldn’t be either. Your journey has been long and difficult and I believe you can handle anything thrown your way. You are intelligent and capable and stronger than you realize. You know how it goes…if they have an issue, research it, learn it. That’s where your power is. Just keep looking ahead. We’re holding your hand.
Amanda, I had an echogenic cardiac focus with one of my twins. It totally freaked me out and cause me a ton of absolutely useless worry and stress. Everything was completely and totally normal with my baby. My OB said he wished it wouldn’t even be reported as an abnormality on an ultrasound because it’s pretty common and in the absence of any other Down’s markers it means nothing. I hope you don’t spend one more minute worrying about it! Hang in there!
Oh Amanda, I hope these trials end for you very soon- and am praying that all is ok in there…..
Thinking of you x
hang in there honey. I know it must be hard to stay positive. you can do it.
As always, thinking of you and praying for the best.
A friend of mine had that same echogenic focus found during her pregnancy and she gave birth to a healthy baby.
I’m sure you are worried, as I would be too, but in the absense of other problems/markers/abnormalities, try hard to focus on that, too.
I had the same thing with my 2nd child, a daughter, born in May 2005. I tried not to get too freaked about it (I know, easy to say in hindsight). As with your baby, there were no other markers for my child. The thought did sit in the back of my mind until I was laying on the operating table (she was breech) and I was able to get a really good look at her to make sure everything was okay. Stay strong and try to continue to enjoy your pregnancy. I’ll be thinking about you.
I’m also hoping everything is ok too. it must be so scary not to have definate answers but if thoughts/wishes/hopes/prayers of a heathen make any difference you know you got mine that this is just a bump in the road not a sharp curve. xox
Amanda,
I’m so sorry you had to here the that news today, and I imagine it’s hard not to worry. Praying that little guy is okay.
Thinking of you and Dan.
Love,
Kimmer
Amanda, this road must be so scary for you and will stay that way until you safely deliver the little bugger, as you call him. I’m so sorry that you had to get news that scared you a little more. I know nothing about the scan you had and its meaning, so I’d be talking out of my booty if I tried to say anything meaningful. But know that I’m thinking of you, for the wee bit that might be work.
Hugs to you…
T
Amanda, thinking of you and hoping the placenta resolves itself and you’re on the right side of the numbers. Sounds like there’s a good chance of that. I’m sorry that you have to go through this, I’m hoping for a smoother sail from this point forward.
Ugh. I’m so sorry that you have to be scared like this. I felt the same way after I got my afp results. I’m hoping that everything turns out ok for both of us.
Oh G-d, I’m so sorry that you’ve got this extra concern. I’m going to keep hoping that your baby is just fine, that it’s nothing that will be any problem whatsoever.
As far as the low-lying placenta, they will often move without any real problem. You’re at the point in your pregnancy when your uterus is about to undergo some serious growth, which will hopefully pull the placenta away from the cervix. Picture an uninflated balloon with a spot about a cm away from the hole. Then blow it up and the spot moves away. Same thing happens with the placenta–it doesn’t actually move, but moves with the growth of the uterus. It doesn’t have to move very far for it to be “far enough”, either, which is good.
Keeping you in my thoughts!
I’m sorry about these worries… we are here for you to vent! I’ll continue to pray for you, Dan and the little bugger.
I totally understand all of your worries. We’ve had our share this pregnancy too. One thing that kept me going was that I was being closely monitored– not something everyone gets. And that gave me a little peace of mind.
I wish you well
My little guy had a couple choroid plexus cysts in his brain on our 20 wk ultrasound. Like the echogenic cardiac foci they usually mean nothing when found independent of any other Downs markers. My u/s technician said that in the future they won’t even be of concern because they can be so common. Sure enough, the cysts disappeared within 2 weeks.
2 women I know have encountered the “spots” on their babies hearts and both went on to have perfectly healthy kids. Still, it’s hard not to worry.
Saying a prayer for your little one…
I am sure you are scared, how could you help that? I have high hopes for you and the little guy.
Waiting and hoping with you. (((hugs)))) - I know they are cheesy but sometimes just what you need.
Can I just ditto what Miss X wrote? I’m so happy you’ve gotten this far and I am right there with you hoping like crazy for an easy pregnancy and healthy baby. And I totally understand your anxiety!
Sending best wishes your way. You’re in my thoughts.
Oh crap Amanda. I hope it turns out to be nothing except a bit of extra drama for you to deal with, but man, you certainly don’t need this!
We are all pulling for you Amanda! Your little guy is special and hopefully with lots of prayers and love from everyone in the blogosphere he will continue to thrive.
How many weeks are you exactly now?
I’ve heard from several people (as other posters have mentioned) that that marker without any of the others is pretty meaningless. But it still sucks, I was so hoping for an easy worry free pregnancy for you. I don’t know anything about the placenta, but I have everything crossed that it’ll move.
(((hugs)))
Amanda I am sorry that you got news to make you worry. I feel strongly that infertility patients should get the free pass on pregnancy complications (although I don’t have my head up my ass enough to believe that). But I hate that we know the odds so very well.
I am thinking of you and hoping that your worrying is for not.
I was going to say the same thing as some of the other commenters - I thought that this didn’t mean anythign in the absence of other Down’s markers. And your nuchal fold test was so clearly fine that I’m very hopeful for you. Hoping that you are feeling back on an even keel now. Or not, but at least coping.
I know how scary those markers can be. J had choroid plexus cysts at the 20 week level II and she turned out to be blissfully healthy.
I know the reduced odds are frightening but it’s truly such a small percentage. My money’s on that echogenic focus being a mere blip on the radar screen of normal.
Try to hang in there. The anxiety and fear are real, I know. But how I wish they weren’t…and how I wish for normal. Wait and hope friend, while we wait and hope right with you.
Not what you wanted to hear, I’m sure. I’ll just chime in with the others to say that I’ve heard one marker is not something to get very worried about (ha ha, I know). But I can think of a couple of bloggers off the top of my head who had some markers, and everyone consulting with them thought they were fine. They didn’t feel the need to have amnios. Hang in there mama.
Oh Amanda, I’m sorry you’ve been given something to worry about. Like you didn’t have enough with just run of the mill crap! My first thoughts when reading this are that the odds are so overwhelming in your favor. I know this isn’t much comfort to someone whose fallen on the wrong side of stats before but I had to say it anyway! Thinking of you and hoping the fear eases as things progress.