Pregnancy Info HOME

Mammabunny - I'm sorry you have to join our forum, but know that here you'll find comfort from a lot of moms going through the same thing.

I found out about my baby's EIF on January 28th, like you I have been devastated. I've been having moments when I feel super positive, and other's when I feel like I'm going to be the one. Sleeping for me has been tough too, I haven't been able to sleep through the night like before. The first days found myself waking up at 4:30 and doing research in the computer, I'm not researching anymore.... The truth is no matter how much research, only God knows. Now I've manages to sleep until like 5:30, and instead of going online I just pray. I'm praying for God to give me Faith that things will go well.

How far along are you? I'm 19 this week, since you just found out, you should be in a similar boat, so we can support each other the next 4 months.

My last chance to do an amnio is next week, I have my off and on days about the amnio, as you can see in my past posts.... Yesterday I wanted to do it, today I don't know, Has anyone felt some days as though you know your baby has DS???? Like some kind of intuition???? Or am I confusing this with just being terrified and having great lack of faith???

Gretchen and 1moremore - Good luck! I'm sure your little ones will be sooo healthy!!! Please come back and post!!!!

Mammabunny - So sorry that you have to join this group but truth be told, thee are sooo many comforting stories on this board and it is the only place that I can make some sort of sense out of all this. We have all been to the dark side with this finding and all I can say that it does get better, but the doubt never goes away.

I am almost 30 weeks now and I still have bad days - most of the time I am positive and extermely happy but there are times that I go online and search every pregnancy board I can get my hands on.

Eugenia - You are not alone in your feeling, as a matter of fact, a few posts back, I posted the very same question...is it really fear or is it my inuition. All I can say is that I think it is fear of the unknown. We were not willing to take the risk with an amnio given that 1.) the peri did NOT recommend it and 2.) our risk ration was 1 in greater than 5,000 (bbefore the EIF it was 1 in greater than 10,000). I could not justify the risk and neither could my OB. Although he did say that he would send me for one if it would worry me that much. It was my husband who put his foot down and said no way.

Gretchen - You had the amnio right?! Wishing you a very speedy and healthy delivery. You know that you LO is as healthy as can be...hang in there.

1moremom - Can not wait for you to post your good news. Good luck as well!

As for me, we have our 3D/4D ultrasound tomorrow and I am excited to see her. The 20 week was the last time we had an ultrasound and it has now veen 10 weeks...eeek............

carlas- thank you for the information about the agar test. I was not aware of that.

mamabunny - welcome hun, sorry you are here though:( Everyone here is feeling the same thing and can be a great support system. I hope you will find the stories on here comforting. They have worked for me when I am having one of my "bad" days.

Eugenia - I think your thoughts of baby having DS are from being scared. I often have those days too when i wonder if it is fear or intuition. I really think it is fear because the docs have planted those exact seeds in our heads. Did you think that way before you found out about the focus?

Gretchen and 1 moremom - I can't wait to hear your good news!!!

wannalil1 - How exciting to get the 3D/4D u/s. Have a great time with that. I thought about doing that but haven't decided. I totally know what you mean about having a bad day and searching all the pregnancy boards. It can really be a bad thing for us to do in this frame of mind!

So for me I had an u/s today and the baby is measuring 12 days ahead at 30 wks 3 days. The focus was still there but again everything else was measuring great. The tech made me feel better, even though it is a temporary feel better. I keep going to the same woman. She said she has seen this so many times and really it means nothing. I pray she is right. She feels so bad that my first pregnancy has so much worry attached to it.

Hello,

I have spent the last few hours reading through all the posts on this thread - thank you as many have provided comfort and some peace of mind.

I received a call from my dr. this morning letting me know that the results from my 20 week 'anatomical ultrasound' were all good EXCEPT, that the tech noticed a bright spot on the heart and both kidneys are slightly enlarged. She went on to say that these are both soft signs of DS. I hung up the phone, closed my office door and bawled my eyes out. I have been crying off and on all day.

Has anyone else been diagonised with both of these? I will be 35 at the time of delivery and all other tests have been negative. (a combo u/s and blood test during first trimester came back at 1/42000 chance)

I am awaiting an appointment with a geneticist. In the mean time, if anyone has anything to share, please do.

kimma - welcome to the board, although we all wish we weren't here. My lil on e only has the echogenic focus but I don't have any bloodwork numbers to go on because I skipped all that testing. I do have to say your numbers look great and that should be a lil bit of a comfort. First of all the echogenic focus is only a soft marker of DS and even that has been highly debated. It is also a normal varient in some pregnancies about 1 out of every 20 or 30 women will find this on their u/s. My doc and tech told me they see this all the time and not to worry about it. Granted I'm worrying my head off until the very end but at least this is actually more common than I originally thought and nearly all babies are born healthy.

Are the scheduling you for a repeat or Level 2 u/s to check on the kidneys? Also just so you know in a lot of cases the echogenic focus does not go away. Even if it does it still doesn't change the risk. Mine is still there and I just had an u/s at 29 weeks.

I hope you will find this group very supportive. We will ALL get through this and go onto to have healthy babies.

Hi Kimma,

So sorry you are going through this. You said you read through the board messages – there seems to be a pattern in people’s reaction to the news. It’s all you think about for about a couple of weeks to a month and then you kind of get your equilibrium back. On another note, if I had 1/42000 odds, or even 1/4200, I’d be doing back flips around my house. Seriously! I had 1/931 first trimester screening odds (I’m 36, 37 at delivery) and then 2 markers were found – an EIF and a CPC/cyst on the brain. I still feel pretty good about my odds though. Please try not to let it consume you…harder said than done I know but try anyway. It gets better!

Hi , I found out at 20 weeks level 2 ultrasound that my baby had ecogenic focus and club feet went to a perinatologist and he said any 2 thinghs appearing togheter may be a sign for down syndrome I was then 22 weeks along did not want to terminate but i did want to know so i had an ammio and scared to death but preapred the results came back baby was ok and no ds at 39 weeks i went in for my schedule c section but no heartbeat was found my baby was stillorn jan 2 2009 cause od death twisting of umbilical cord ,baby was perfect beautiful 7lb5oz so all i can say to you is stillbirth in 3 trimester happens more often then you may know ,if i had a sonogram done and cheked for his cord i could have saved my baby. get all the test done

I keep checking this everyday to see if there is any news about Gretchen and 1 moremom! So excited to hear about their wonderful little ones arriving! Hurray for more babies!!!!
To our new friends who have just recently joined us.......welcome! You'll find this place to be one of unity and strength! All of the women here are so fantastic and so supportive, you will find a lot of peace here, whether you learn to put this in the hands of God or you find another way to deal with what's happening. I for one am not religious (I do believe in something, just not sure what), however, I do find that I am more calm in talking with different doctors, research, numbers, etc. I guess I am more scientific than spiritual.....though that's not to say I haven't said my share of prayers :P
I'm starting to get closer and closer to my own due date...only 5 weeks to go (aka, bring on the misery of third trimester pain! lol). It seriously feels like this little wee-nut keeps taking it's hand and running it along the inside of my hip bone! Talk about discomfort!!!! And I guess since I have already had one baby (my daughter, who will be three in 9 weeks), this baby is sitting really low already, therefore, that discomfort has come early along with a lot of pressure! I know......whine, whine, whine! lol! My poor husband :)
Hope everyone is doing okay and Gretchen and 1 moremom......we're waiting.....very patiently!!! lol!
Keeping you all in my thoughts!
Diane

paolan - I am so sorry to hear about your little one! I know that words cannot describe the kind of pain that you are going through, and I won't even try to imagine it. I just wanted you to know that my thoughts are with you! Wow.....I honestly don't know what else to say!

Hey Ladies, I told you I would come back here and tell my story. My son, Levi, was born Saturday morning. He is perfectly healthy and a beautiful 8 pounds 1 ounce. He is perfect in every way. I was a nervous wreck when he came out, questioning everything they said. We came home today, one day early, because he and I were doing so well. This is also my third so they probably assumed I knew what I was doing. He has also been my easiest so far with everything, caught on to nursing right away like a pro. I could not have asked for a more perfect child. God has truly blessed me. Hang in there ladies, your time is coming. I thought mine would never get here. By the way, there were no extra tests or anything else they wanted to do to him. His normal pediatrician was off this weekend so I still have lots of questions for him this next week at his appt. I still worry about long term effects for the heart. I am a constant worrier. Does anyone know if there are any other effects on the heart later? I will continue to check back here. This site was a life saver for me and I can't wait to hear about all your perfect little ones. Gretchen

Gretchen - congrats on your healthy boy!!! I'm so happy for you. Thank you for coming back and posting your good news. I am sure you are super busy with your little one. From what I have read the echogenic focus has no impact on the heart whatsoever so there is no need to worry long term. I'm sure your pediatrician will tell you the same. Take care:)

1moremom - I hope you have delivered your healthy baby and are going to post soon.

Gretchen, Congratulations!!! I am so happy that you posted your wonderful news!
As far as future heart problems...the sono tech that I saw told me that no one really knows what the spot is because after a baby is born they cant find it anymore. I guess that they would do a sonogram on the babys heart after birth to see if anything can be found in there. Let me know if the dr.'s do any other tests to make sure that everything is fine.
I still have 15 weeks to go...sounds like an eternity right now. I cant wait to get a girly nursery done. I love my son but setting up his room was not quite the same as a girls room.
Good luck to everyone here!!

Congrats Gretchen!!! I am so happy to see you post your good news!!!

As for me, we had our 3D/4D sonogram on Saturday and I amy be biased but she looks perfect...Of course, I can not help but scrutinize every part I see, like is her nose too wide, etc?! But I guess that comes with the territory. I have 10 more weeks to go....YIKES! I am sure it will be here before I know it!

1more mom, I think you are next? Who is next in line to deliver, do we have March babies on board...Steffie I know you and I are close....

Gretchen - HURRAY!!!!!!!!! All that darn worrying for nothing! So happy for you and your little man! too bad you can't post a picture of the little guy!

I'm due in 5 more weeks - March 14th. I think that 1moremom is due in the next couple of days! Hurray for babies!!!! I can't wait to hold my little one! I think my daughter (who will be almost 3) is going to look HUGE when I see her after delivery! I'm kind of sad about that part, but excited to see the little person and how my daughter is going to be a big sister!

Keep the good news flowing :) It's snowing here again and I need some more happiness coming my way! Hope to hear from 1moremom soon! Sending good labout thoughts her way!

wanna lil - So glad you 3D/4D went awesome! I am sure your baby is perfect. I think the order is...

1moremom - anyday now
ohhmuffin - March 14
myself and yourself - mid/end of April. I'm due the 26th but I'm wondering if I'll go early or not since the baby is measuring 12 days ahead right now.
lipstick - end of May/begining of June?

Hi everyone!
Gretchen- Congratulations on Levi!!! When I saw your name on the board and saw that there was a new post from you I was so eager and excited to read it. YEAH!!! Put a big smile on my face :)
Paolan- I am so sorry to hear about your loss. It must be devastating and I hope you are doing ok. There are no words to express my sorrow for you but I do wish you and your family all the best.
As for all the ladies that have been keeping me in your thoughts and keeping track of my due date, THANK YOU!! You all have made me feel so good and it really made my day to see how many of you are rooting for me and remembering me.
I just got back from my doc appt and my girl has, once again, flipped and is now head down. I am starting to feel as if she will never come but it must be soon. Her due date is tomorrow but I have a feeling the date will pass me by and she will be a little longer, unfortunately. I can't wait to see her but for now she is content where she is. She looked good on her ultrasound and is measuring almost 8 lbs.
Kimma I must say I agree with Texasmom in that your blood test results should give you a great measure of hope. Those scores are fabulous and I'm sure all is perfect with you and your baby. As a reference, my score, after EIF, is 1/80....
Ohmuffin- 5 weeks! getting close!! I love to read your posts and will definately continue to do so and check up on you and your baby. I look forward to hearing your take on the birth. You always have such a funny take on things, I like to see it. I especially loved your post about the baby using your bladder for a trampoline. You not only nailed it but had me and my husband rolling on the floor laughing!!
Steffie and wannalil1- Thanks so much again for keeping me in your thoughts. It means so much!!!
And lipstick I do agree that setting up a girls room is pretty fun. All girl clothes too are just so fabulous.
WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!