I will probably be posting this in a couple different spots on this board, but I wanted to start here.

I had my 2nd u/s last week. My Dr. just called me today to tell me that another one was required. Why? Because "the lateral ventrical is top normal in size". Meaning it's measuring on the upper end of normal.

I'm worried and yes I'm scared. It happens to be that I have my regular monthly OB apt. tomorrow anyway, and my Dr. said she will write out a script for me to get another u/s done, and I will further discuss this finding with her.

She said it could be the way the baby was positioned which can sometimes give off inaccurate measurements, etc. and I'm so hoping that's the case. I'm really trying not to worry too much until we get the results of the 2nd u/s, as I've read of pple having some type of abnormality in one u/s and the next one comes out fine.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is: has anyone had an u/s showing a lateral ventrical that was enlarged? I'm assuming this is considered 'mild' since it's measuring on the upper end of normal. If so and if it was confirmed twice, does this get bigger? How does it affect the baby after it's born, etc.?

Any questions I should ask my Dr.? The questions I will be asking her is what it was measuring at and what is normal, and also if this is called "Ventriculomegaly'. Based on my research I believe that word means enlarged lateral ventrical.

So if you had an 'abnormal' u/s which resulted in them giving you another one, please tell me if everything winded up fine or if it was confirmed that there was in fact some type of abnormality.

If anyone has any type of info. on slightly enlarged lateral ventrical, please share. I'm trying to think positive here that the next u/s will come out fine, but after getting this phone call it's really hard not to think the worst.

Also, should I request a 3-D u/s? The diagnostic center that I go to only has 2-D's....and I'm assuming my Dr. will write me to have a 2-D done. There's another hospital that does do 3-D's. Should I request that from my Dr to have a 3-D u/s done?

Thanks all, and wish us luck.

Dawn, I don't have any answers just a :justahug:
Please call me (or i can call you) if you need to talk.

This is going to make me sound like a complete moron, but our 19wk u/s showed that one of the twins (Norah?) had this spot...like fluid in a ventricle....but she really didnt talk to us much about it b/c she said that it could just have been a fluke. So she sent us to the perinatologist for a level II u/s (which I am assuming is what you will need.....3D isnt necessary, but I am assuming they want a more detailed u/s) and it turned out to be nothing. :dunno:

Typically, as ar as I know, an enlarged ventricle means that there is or there has been a bleed. Is that what they are leaning towards? Or dont you know?

:hug99:

Dawn...I don't have any answers to your u/sound questions but I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you and hope (and pray) that your next u/sound is clear and your questions get answered.:hug99:

but she really didnt talk to us much about it b/c she said that it could just have been a fluke.Karri, I'm thinking this is how my Dr's going to be as well. She's more of the type of not discussing it at length to scare me more knowing it can be a fluke (like how she was telling me almost right away about how it could be the way the baby was positioned, etc.)


So she sent us to the perinatologist for a level II u/s (which I am assuming is what you will need.....3D isnt necessary, but I am assuming they want a more detailed u/s) and it turned out to be nothing. :dunno:Yes, thank you...that's what I needed to know: a level II u/s. I'll see if my Dr. recommends that (which I'm sure she should...or at least I'm hoping so!). If by chance not, then I will surely request one. I will also call the diagnostic center this morn. to see if they do those level II's (they don't do the 3-D's)
so I can be thorough with everything.


Typically, as ar as I know, an enlarged ventricle means that there is or there has been a bleed. Is that what they are leaning towards? Or dont you know?
:hug99:I don't know. I will ask the Dr. though, what that does mean though. Thanks. :) Oh, and I'm glad that everything turned out fine with Norah...it's so scary when they find something on there, isn't it? We're praying that the same goes for this....that it's just an inacurrate measurement for some reason or a shadow or something.

Thanks for that info. Karri. :hug99: I'm trying to have hope that it turns out to be nothing. Also, thanks Stacy and Jane. :hug99:

I'll keep you all informed.......

I can't answer your questions either, but I just wanted you to know that I'll be thinking about you :hug99: So many things end up being nothing.

I don't know anythinkg either, but I'll keep your baby bean in my prayers. :bighug:

:bighug:

I just wanted to offer some hugs to you and your family :hug99:. I had an abnormal u/s with Jackson too and unfortunately, we didn't know the health of Jackson until he was born. They found a soft marker for Down Syndrome on his heart, thankfully it was the ohly marker he had.

I hope you are able to get some answers to your questions. I do think that not knowing is the hardest part. :hug99:

I also can't answer any of your questions but I'm sending you a hug and letting you know that I'm hoping for the best. :hug99:

Thanks Nocona, Hilary, Jeni, Tracey, and Barb. :bighug: Your thoughts and prayers are really appreciated.

Tracey, thanks for sharing. That must be so hard not knowing the health of your child until after they are born. I could imagine how hard it must of been for you though when the u/s came out abnormal. I'm glad all is well with Jackson & he only had the one marker. And yes, not knowing IS by far the hardest part. It's the waiting game that really sucks. Today at my OB apt. she will write out a script for me to get the u/s done then from there I'll call and get the soonest apt. I can (with my luck it won't be until 2 wks. :rolleyes: )

:bighug: I hope it turns out to be nothing.... and that they figure it out EARLY in the next u/s so you can enjoy the extra scan!

Thanks Sheila. :bighug:

Well, I saw my Dr. yesterday and since the visit I've been feeling very optimistic about this. First of all I asked about a level II u/s and she said no because insurance would NOT pay for it. Why? Well, because in the u/s report that came back to my Dr. there was this one sentence with the part I"m referring to in bold:

"The c_______ ?(can't remember the exact word) lateral ventricle is top normal in size WHICH IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE FETUS."

So because it's in there that the reason for this measurement is most likely due to the position of the fetus, is why ins. won't deem it 'medically necessary' and will not pay for a level II in this particular situation. So I go for a regular u/s on Friday, Sept. 17th. I called to schedule and that's the soonest they can do it. :(

Until then I'm not doing anymore research...what I researched thus far is enough and I'm done. I'll just wait until the 17th and until then continue to pray and hope for the best...that it is just that...the way she was positioned.

Thanks all for your thoughts, hugs and prayers. It means alot. I will keep you all posted of how my u/s goes on the 17th. :)

:hug99: dawn. i am sure it is nothing! i had to get a level II done because they 'needed better pics of the heart' which is such a vague thing to tell me. i had the u/s a week later and it was nothing, they were just being extra careful and it was positioning that made the first pics so crappy.

sept 17th?! jeez!!!!!!

I had the same heart thing with Matthew too. Luckily they got me in right away.

I'm sure everything will be fine on the 17th!

Oh well that sounds very optimistic Dawn! I'm sure it was nothing too. :nod: How crappy that you have to wait until the 17th though for an u/s. :rolleyes:

I'm sorry they won't pay for another u/s. That was my problem too (my AFP came back normal so they didn't feel another u/s to confirm was needed :rolleyes: ). I'm thinking VERY positive thoughts for you Dawn!!! I

Thanks Kim, Nocona, Mandi & Tracey. :bighug:

I know...having to wait until Sept. 17th really sux! We're still hoping and praying, but not dwelling on it or anything, kwim? Just keeping optimistic and hopefully all will show normal come the 17th.

Tracey - Yes, it does kinda suck that I can't get a Level II since they won't pay for it. However, I am fortunate that at least they are paying for something even if it is a regular 2-D, ya know? I guess something is better than nothing. These ins. co.'s....geeze. :disbelief: Thanks for the positive thoughts. :)

:bighug: It's frustrating, I know...Rebecca had a type of cyst in her brain on her first ultrasound, which can either be associated with Down's syndrome, or Trisomy 18...or be totally normal. We had a follow up ultrasound several weeks later, and it was fine...but it was still really frustrating, and I never felt 100% comfortable until Rebecca was born. I'm sure yours will turn out fine too!!

:bighug: It's frustrating, I know...Rebecca had a type of cyst in her brain on her first ultrasound, which can either be associated with Down's syndrome, or Trisomy 18...or be totally normal. We had a follow up ultrasound several weeks later, and it was fine...but it was still really frustrating, and I never felt 100% comfortable until Rebecca was born. I'm sure yours will turn out fine too!!
We went through the same ordeal as Eleanor did. During my 20 week U/S they found that Matthew had Choroid Plexus Cyst and debris in his bowel. We could not handle the wait and decided to go for genetic counselling and had a Amniocentisis (sp?) done. Let me tell you this was the longest three days ever. We went back for a follow up U/S at 30 weeks and found our baby was fine and the Cyst has dissolved. I too was never conviced that our baby was fine until I could see it for myself. Way too stressssssssssful especially for a pregnant woman to deal with.

Please know that I am here should you need to ask any questions. My thoughts are with you during this stressful time. Be positive ( I know easier said then done) :hug99:

Thanks so much Eleanor & Becky. :bighug: It was very enlightening to read your stories about your little ones and how everything was fine in the end. I, too, agree that I really won't feel comfortable until after she's born. Everything your going through up until that point is very stressful and frustrating.

Thanks again. :bighug:

I hope that knowing you've got Healthy Baby Wishes coming your way from Australia helps you feel a bit better during this inhumanely long wait for a follow up. September 17? How can we possibly be patient until then?!

I hope that knowing you've got Healthy Baby Wishes coming your way from Australia helps you feel a bit better during this inhumanely long wait for a follow up. September 17? How can we possibly be patient until then?!Thanks Carol! :bighug: I know...Sept 17th is just so far from now! *sigh* It's just crazy! We leave for Ca on Sept. 10th so hopefully that will help get my mind off things and help for time to pass more quickly. By the time we come back I get the u/s done. :) Thanks for your Healthy Baby Wishes from Australia, Mate. :hug99: Ok...that probably sounded so corney.... :lol:

LOL, I think the best Australian phrase for this situation is "She'll be apples!" :) It means "Everything will be fine!"

LOL, I think the best Australian phrase for this situation is "She'll be apples!" :) It means "Everything will be fine!":lol: Cool, sounds good to me! :crossfing: Thanks :hug99:

Carols right "She'll be apples!".

Dawn I can't believe you have to wait until the 17th. Can you get in earlier if there is a cancellation?

I'm thinking of you.

Dawn I can't believe you have to wait until the 17th. Can you get in earlier if there is a cancellation?

Thanks Jane. :bighug: I know...the 17th is a long while from now! :disbelief: They don't have waiting lists...the only way is if I try and call them right before they close (right after they call & do their confirm apts) and if there's a cancellation then I can. If I remember I've been doing that....no such luck so far. *sigh*

Well, my Dr. called me today and she just got off the phone with the Radiologist (from my u/s I had last Fri). I knew it wasn't good news when I saw her # on my caller ID.

I need to get a Level II u/s done. They are concerned because the baby has IUGR or "early Intrauterine growth restriction' in other words the baby's growth has slowed down and the measurements are below growth limits. Baby is measuring low (small). :( I'm doing research on it now to learn a bit more about it & so I know what questions to eventually ask. Looks like I'll have another small (possibly smaller than Lexie) baby. I just want all to be ok. Usually fetuses with IUGR who survive the compromised intrauterine environment are at increased risk for perinatal complications. This is so awful & scary....I just want her to be healthy and ok.

I asked my Dr. about the brain (the lateral ventricle that was top normal in size at the 2nd u/s) and she said that was seperate. The radiologist mentioned it has 'persistent assymetry of the lateral ventricle'. Ugh. Have no idea what that means but my dr. said alot of times with 'assymetry' it can turn out to be nothing...like a left and right foot. ?? I can't remember exactly how she was describing it. I just hope so. This is all getting to be too much.

So we have 2 things that we're worried about. Please keep us and baby D in your prayers. I really thought that this third u/s would show up normal...unfortunately it didn't. :(

I have an apt. for this Friday at a hospital my Dr. recommended me go to that specialize in high risk which I'll get my Level II there. The girl will keep an eye out if any cancellations come up before then.

We just want this baby to be ok. I know she'll be small...don't know how small yet, but I want all to be ok. I know she'll be in NICU as almost all babies with fetal growth restriction problems are, but again, I want all to be ok with her brain and any problems if she has any after birth.

Oh yea, they will have to check/monitor my fluids (amniotic) and give non stress test(s) and monitor things to be sure I don't go in early. I'll keep you posted as I find more things out. That's all I know for now....

Thanks for listening....

In the meantime please let me know if any of you had experience with IUGR (Early intrauterine growth restriction) or 'persistent assymetry of the lateral ventrical'. Thanks.

:hug99: dawn! this must be so hard for you and james :bighug:

i am keeping you guys in my thoughts!

Ah I am so sorry you didnt get the news you were wanting to hear. My thought and prayers are with you, James, Alexis and wee baby too. :justahug:

:hug99: I'm so sorry Dawn! I was thinking about you on Friday and praying for better news. :hug99: Keeping you all in my thoughts!

Dawn..I am so sorry to hear that you did not get the results that you were expecting. Could it be that you just have smaller babies? I know Lexie was a lot smaller than average (Am I right?). Lets hope that it is just the same.:bighug:

I hope Friday gets some more answers to your sweet little babies development.:bighug:

You are in my prayers.:bighug:

:hug99: Thinking of you and of your little one and hoping the news gets better from here on in.

Janelle had IUGR...we had to have ultrasounds every other week and biophysical profiles weekly. She ended up being 5lbs 9ounces at birth with a LOT of fluid retention, they gave her a diuretic at about 3 hours old cause she was having some problems related to that (I really can't remember much, after a almost 60 hour labor I was out of it) and we left the hospital 3 days later with her weighing 4lbs 8ounces. She had problems immediatly in she didn't know how to swallow...she could suck but then she just held the liquid in her mouth...it only took a couple hours of therapy/excersises/massaging with I *think* a speach therapist to teach her how to swallow...she was in the nicu that day, but only for a few hours. After that she had some developmental delays in upper body strength, gross motor control (only the upper body), and fine motor skills/hand eye co-ordination...she saw a developmental ped about 6 times I think and we did excercises at home and she is now (as of the 10th) completely caught up to age level (she was never behind enough for therapy...).

She is still very very small. 18lbs 2ounces and 31 inches at 2 years old.

Hi Jillian! Thanks so much for your reply. Yea, I always remembered your daughter being very small. I'm so glad to hear that she's doing fine now. I could of only imagined what you went through. I can't remember....but did you give birth early?

Ya know, it's kinda ironic but my Alexia, I could swear, by reading up on IUGR, that she had it. She was never diagnosed with it....but I only had the one u/s and I'm wondering if it's even possible that she could have started developing it later (IUGR). Just everything I'm reading about IUGR seems kinda similiar to Lexie's situation. I'm starting to question this because of the fact she was reall small (4 lbs. 15 oz.) and was born 7 days after my due date, she was in NICU for 9 days, I hardly had any amniotic fluid when my water had to be broken, and she was developmentally behind and had to undergo PT (gross motor skills) and OT. I did have to have an emergency c-section because she was stressed and I was going into hypertension. Just alot of things were wrong with her and we had to deal with alot of things for a good part of her first year and more. I'm thinking if this is all a coicidence or if she did in fact have IUGR. ?? NOW, at 2 1/2 yrs. old she is on track but like your daughter, is still a peanut...she's a little over 23 lbs. I want to try to see if I can get hospital records from when she was born, I hope I can because I want to read about all the details. This is intriguing me if Alexia had IUGR OR if she was just a 'small baby' with some developmental problems. :dunno: Too many things sound similiar with what they say about IUGR and what she went through. And they do say that once you have a small baby (IUGR) your next one will be small as well.
Now that I got all that off my chest....

I want to ask if this baby has assemetric IUGR or symetric IUGR, then I want to find out the progression of the IUGR. I'm trying to think of other questions to ask. I will be asking about the brain part (lateral ventricle) as well which is a seperate problem.

Have they figured out why Janelle had IUGR? I know they mention lots of different reasons for the causes of it and I was curious.

Well, if you don't mind....I may PM you if I have more questions. I'm also getting in contact with a friend who use to be on this board, who's son had it as well.

Thanks so much. :)

Feel free to PM me your answers if you rather. :)

I was going to suggest getting in contact with Gillian (sp? Really, jillian has no G in it :lol: ) but I assume that's who you mean by a friend who used to be on the boards. Also, Gemanda's little girl had IUGR (as well as other things)

I also have to say that I completely thought Lexie did have IUGR...don't know why I thought that but you know born weighing less than 5lbs overdue would definitely seem like iugr to me! I just always thought that was the reason she need pt.

I don't know where to start here...lol Hmm...

I have no clue how early Janelle was when she was born...I really think I had a horrible perinatologist He gave me a new due date based on u/s dating every 4 weeks all the way till 22 weeks which was when he decided it was IUGR... So by his last due date (October 2nd) she was about 4 weeks early, by my original due date (September 21st) She was less than 2 weeks early... Then to make it more confusing when the nicu did their testing they said they thought she was 6 weeks early! I say that by date of conception she was due September 25th...so about 3 weeks early... told you it was confusing. He (my peri) never bothered to figure out what was cauing the IUGR...in fact when I went for my 6 wk check up and asked what they found out from my placenta he didn't know. My midwife was just able to tell me that Janelle was originally twins (which she told me when I miscarried Kincaid's twin...she said it is really commong for it to happen every pregnancy if it happens once...I had no clue it had happened the first time) She also discovered I had thyroid(underactive) problems and thalassemia both of which can lead to low birth weights so we treated that while pregnant with Caid and though he wasn't big he was almost exactly average at 7lbs 7ounces (7.5lbs is average)...so those things could be it. My peri actually sugested it was due to my hyperemesis...but from reasearch I knew that this wasn't true.

Thanks Jillian. Yes, I'm in contact with Gillian as well. :)

I had my regular OB apt. today and I discussed with her my theory in that I feel Alexia had UIGR, based on what I'm reading about it, and she agrees that it certainly seems that way. She said that the unfortunate part was that it was never diagnosed because I never had more than one u/s (I had one u/s with her at 19 1/2 wks. and everything came out fine....the UIGR obviously came out later in the pregnancy like this one here). With Lexie it was just labeled that I carried a small baby. I was lucky enough that I had more than one u/s this time around that they at least found it or was able to see that there is a potential problem before this baby is born. Now at least they can monitor, give tests (non stress tests, etc.), keep an eye on the amniotic fluids, or whatever it is they have to do.

I get my Level II u/s this friday at a hospital that has 5 perinatologists and my OB said that they will explain everything to me and what they recommend, etc. after doing the u/s (as far as other types of testings I may need, how often I need to see the perinatologist, etc.). So Friday should be a very informative day..... I'm getting my list of questions ready.

Good luck :bighug: Thinking of you!

I hope your appt. on Friday goes well and you get answers to your many questions.:bighug:

Dawn - I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow!! :bighug:

We had our 19-week ultrasound yesterday, and the radiologist informed us that our little boy has one choroid plexus cyst on his brain. :( Such a scary thing to hear. He went on to say that there has been evidence to show the association between these cysts and chromosonal problems, mainly trisomy 18, but that since the baby had absolutely no other markers, everything is likely fine. Well, that didn't make me feel a whole lot better!

So, I had a lengthy conversation with my OB last night, who basically reiterated what the radiologist said (but in a much nicer way), and told me that in most cases of trisomy 18 or down's syndrome, some other marker would show up, and that these cysts are very common (he currently has 7 other pregnant women in his practice whose babies have them), and that in his 15 years of practice, he's NEVER seen an isolated choroid plexus cyst with no other markers result in trisomy or down's. Of course, that's no guarantee for us.. but it did make me feel better. He gave me a risk of about 1 in 250 that there may be a chromosonal problem with the baby... a higher risk than I'd like to hear.... but a bit reasssuring. The hardest part is going to be waiting 4.5 more months to see if our baby is ok (since we have no interest in an amnio, and my OB isn't really recommending it based on the risk). We will have another ultrasound later in the pregnancy to see if the cyst has dissolved (which in most cases it does), but from what I've read that's still no guarantee that there isn't a problem.

These things are so difficult to hear.. and I'll send lots of prayers your way for your baby girl!

Marcella,

Our baby who is now 10 months old has choroid plexus cyst as well as debris in the bowel which is another marker for chromosonal difficulties. Unlike you, we chose to have the anmio done and we were told baby was clear of downs and trisomy 18. I was still terrified that something would be wrong with my baby when he was born. At 31 weeks, I went for a repeat US and the cyst had dissolved and the debris was gone. Thankfully at 41 weeks my baby boy was born as healthy as can be..............thank god for that. Man that whole ordeal was the most stressful time of my entire life. If you need to ask ??'s please feel free to contact me, I'd be willing to answer any questions.

My fingers are crossed that both your baby and Dawn's little ones are born healthy.

My midwife told us that she likes to schedule the big routine ultrasound for past 25 weeks if at all possible just because 90% of all choroid plexus cysts, kidney cysts, and other things have dissapeared by this point.

Just checking in to see how your appt. went.

Marcella - I'll be praying that all will be fine. I know it's such a hard thing to think about when they tell you something like that. I'm in a kinda similiar situation to you now...as far as one marker for D.S. is concerned (read my update below)

Jane - Thanks for checking in! I actually reported in my Playgroup but forgot to post the update here....

Ok...well all looks ok so far. :yippee: As of now, the baby does NOT have IUGR. The baby is in the 50th percentile (IUGR babies measure in the 10th percentile and less). The lateral ventrical is fine, as it's measuring less than 10 cm (if it were measuring more than that, it would be an issue), and the amniotic fluid was not low. :) Thank god!

The perintologist (whom we LOVED, btw) absolutely agrees and says that it sounds like Lexie definately had Intrauterine growth Restriction (IUGR). :nod:

The only concern they have is that the humerous (sp?) bones are measuring very small (this is the upper arm bone from the shoulder to the elbow). All other measurements were right in the middle...with the exception of the head measuring a tiny bit over. He says there are one of 2 reasons for the humerous bones to be measuring small 1) because James and I are constitutionally small 2) chromosomal problems. and if we wanted to, for assurance we can get an amnio done to be sure it's not linked to Down's Syndrome (which smaller humerous bones are one marker of Downs Synd., but there are other markers of D.S. which she doesn't have that would be more of a cause for worry if there were other markers). He rec. against the amnio...as it's not worth the risk and since I'm so far into the preg (we wouldn't have this done anyway). He said that he believes it's because of reason #1, and when I asked him, he did say that it didn't eliminate the possibility of DS (as he said sometimes no markers show up on an u/s and a baby can still be born with it). But he feels confident that the reason for the humerous bones measuring small is because of DH and I being constitutionally small (I'm 5'4" and he's 5' 8"). I'm really, really hoping so. :crossfing:

Because he still wants to track the growth of the baby, and because he feels Lexie's IUGR didn't show up until later in the preg. is why we're going back in 4 wks. for another Level II u/s.....I was so happy to hear that! When you have a baby with IUGR your chances of having another one are high. So we're hoping 4 wks. from now (i'll be a little over 34 wks.) all will continue to be ok. From there we will see how the baby is progressing growth wise and to be sure that the baby is not becoming growth restricted (IUGR).

So until then, we are still hoping for the best. :)

Oh, and thank you everyone for all your support and prayers. :bighug: Lets keep them fingers crossed and those prayers coming that everything continues to look good in 4 wks.