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I've only posted on this board a couple times, but I wanted to make sure to give an update when I had one. I delivered a healthy baby boy on May 28! He had an isolated EIF on his left ventricle...my quad screen was negative. This board has been so much help in seeing that you should remain positive about your pregnancy with an isolated EIF. I'm thankful that I found the facebook group through this site too! Everyone was so supportive and it really helped me feel that I was not alone on this journey. I wish everyone the best of pregnancies and enjoy them!

Hi Etoile - I can see your dilemma. I had twins 20 months ago and as a result, had to withstand numerous ultrasounds. Then, after finding that our boy twin had two soft markers (two dilated kidneys and a spot on the heart) we decided to have the level 2 ultrasound to try and put our minds at ease. It did, somewhat, b/c they also measure other markers, like limb length and the nose plate, etc. So knowing those things were developing normally were a great comfort. However, watching his kidneys continue to dilate until te day he was born was a bit stressful. But the u/s left me feeling quite prepared and also allowed us to have extra doctors on hand in the delivery room (especially since it was twins) should we need them.
Anyway, I am still drawn to this board b/c I want to put minds at ease if possible. Given my age, the twin-pregnancy factor, and the number of soft markers we had, our odds were not great. But I delivered two healthy babies who will be turning two shortly.
Yes, these markers can be quite common. An often time don't result in the worst-case-scenario. Best wishes.

Hi everyone. New to this forum, though I've been reading it constantly for the past few days. I'm 36 and about 20 weeks preg. with baby #3. Nuchal test, quad screen, and penta screen all came back negative and I thought I was in the clear as far as having a healthy baby. At my 20 week u/s yesterday the tech found an EIF and didn't explain much about it. I'm both a fact person and have a hx of anxiety disorders and I've had the most terrible two days. I called my OB when I got home from the u/s and he didn't call for two days. I've been in agony trying to figure out what this might mean without an MD's interpretation. My quad screen said that my chances of ds were 1 in 254,000, the u/s tech said to divide that by two (1 in 75K?) but MD just said my chance would be 1 in 300. They can't squeeze me in for an amnio for another week, and with my almost constant panic I don't know how I'm going to make it through another week. Does anyone know if it's even possible to have very negative bloodworks, nuchal tests, quad screen, etc. that would miss ds? I'm not coping very well and am feeling like a terrible wife/mother to my family because I'm overcome with anxiety. Help!

I had my fourth baby at 33. I was told that they could tell my baby did not have ds by the nose bone and measuring the fingers. It did not help. I wasted my whole pregnancy worrying! Even at delivery, I was panicked something would be wrong. The eif was the only problem my baby had, but it did not affect her in anyway. She is 2 now and the most perfect little girl. I know it is hard, but a lot of babies have eifs and alone they mean nothing. My midwife said that technology has advanced so much, they are seeing things they did not use to see. It is good in most cases, but this is one that was a nightmare for me.

HI everyone! I haven't been here in a while, since this board has been kind of quiet, and a lot of us are posting daily in our Facebook Support Group. But in case some of you are still coming back to check up on success stories, I just wanted to let everyone know I'm overdue, I was supposed to have my baby on June 30th, so no news as of yet. But as soon as I have my good news I'll come back and give you guys an update!

AnxiousPaula- I know exactly how you feel, and its totally normal for the first few weeks after finding out about the EIF. I too, has a negative Quad and NT Scan, but still to this day, I'm 2 days past my due date, worry. It does get better though, its just a roller-coaster ride of emotions. We do post about this daily on Facebook, and have gathered lots of articles and current up to date info. We are over 50 Moms dealing with the same finding, giving us support everyday. Email me at eu_21"at"hotmail.com if you're interested. And stay strong!!!!

Christine4- Thanks!!! Reading positive story's like your always make our days much easier!

Hi all. This is the concerned dad here that posted a while ago. Sorry I have not been here to update everyone lately, but we have been extreemely busy. So here is the latest.

Our third son, Collin James, was born at 2:08PM on June 17th. via C cection. We had a few tense momemnts as he was not breathing at first and had to be bagged. Then a few more tense moments when my wife had some excess bleeding, and the doctor had to corterize several areas to stop the bleeding.

Wife and child are now home, and he is absolutely perfect. I asked the pediatrician to look him over well, and she found no signs of any Chromozome (sp?) problems. He eats like a pig, and is growing fast.

So another story to ease all of your minds. If they only find one or two soft markers, chances are good there is nothing wrong, just one of those things.

Andrew

Paula,
Don't get worked up over it. I to have anxiety disorder, and I got all worked up over nothing. Lost a lot of nights sleep over it, and there was nothing wrong, it is just one of those things that happens.

Your MD is giving you the default odds. For your age default odds put you at a 1 in 600 or so risk. Concensus is that finding an EIF about halves those odds, although our specialist says it is not even that much in reality. So that is why your MD put you at 1 in 300. But, and here is the big but, your quad screening put you at an even lower chance of 1 in 254,000. So if you halve that, your chances are in the 1 in 127,000 range. That is way good.

I learned to look at it like this, and it helped. If your chances are 1 in 127,000, that means there is greater than a 99.998% that your baby will be normal. Heck, even at a 1 in 1000 chance, you still have a 99.9% of everything being normal. Those are extreemly high odds of everything being fine.

Don't loose sleep over it, if it helps talk to your doctor about the last US. Leg and arm length are a big factor, if they were normal, you realy have nothing to worry about.

Andrew

To those that are following this board, Eugenia had a healthy baby boy a few days ago! I'm sure she will post her story when she has a chance.

Paula - I know it is hard not be anxious. I was for the rest of my pregnancy. Thankfully I delivered a healthy baby girl on April 29. I didnt have any of the tests done (bloodwork or nuchal scan) so all I had was my age odds. I was 30 when I delivered. I hope you find the stories on this board comforting. If you are looking for further support there are 50 of us that are on a Facebook Support Group that I created back in February. Eugenia is also on there and helps support the group. If you are interested you can email me at steffie92s "at" yahoo.com

hi, i just wanted everyone to know that this site has really helped me through many difficult times and although i have never posted anything before, i promised myself that i would after i gave birth....maybe giving hope to someone else going through a difficult time. i too was told that my baby had an isolated EIF....well, about a month ago i gave birth to a healthy baby girl and i am now enjoying every minute of her. i want to thank everyone out there who posted their stories as they are what gave me peace as to whatever outcome god had planned for me.

At my 14 week ultrasound, the doctor told me about an EIF they found in my baby's heart. I was devastated, and did not know what to do. I found out over the holidays and instead of enjoying Christmas, and enjoying being pregnant, my hubby and I worried ourselves sick thinking of all the "what ifs".

I saw this forum and read all 70+ pages. It gave me comfort, knowing that other people were going through the same situation. I vowed to come back and post a success story as soon as I gave birth.

I gave birth last May to a beautiful, healthy girl..... I am sending you all my good vibes, prayers, and best wishes.

I am a 31-year old that is about 21 1/2 weeks pregnant. My 1st trimester tests came back with a 1/10,000 odds of DS and a 1/19,000 odds of trisomy. And my second set of blood work also came back normal. But at my 20-week ultrasound they found a small white spot in the left ventricle. They are currently in the process of scheduling a level 2 ultrasound. I just feel so uninformed and terrified. My husband is much older than I am and he has been dreaming of having this little girl for a long time. very scary.

Hi Riperdays....you and I have very similiar odds. I was freaked out so much I did the amnio and was fine. We have a support group (its a secret group that no one can see unless you are invited) on Facebook that is fabulous! I have been apart of it since March/April (I am 37 weeks prego) and many many women have this, but we are having so many healthy births its reassuring. Please email me if you want to join (or if anyone wants to join) at asuanddukechic "at sign" gmail.com and we will set you up to be invited.

Hello everyone! I guess my situation is a bit different from others, since I am now 36 weeks pregnant and just found out that somewhere along the way my U/S showed there was an EIF. Here is how it happened: had my weekly appt at the Dr.'s office today. The office is ran by a team of 4 doctors, with the last one just joining the team as recently as of last week. I did not feel comfortable seeing someone "new" so far along my pregnancy, but decided to give him a try. To my dismay, the new Dr. asked me about why I didn't do the amnio (I'm 35, all tests I was told were "normal), and I explained to him that I felt the risk of miscarriage was higher than that of a chromosomal abnormality. He then proceeded to explain to me that the reason he asked was because there was a note in my chart stating that an "echogenic loci" was seen at some point during one of the ultrasounds I had during the first 1/2 of the pregnancy. This finding was NEVER mentioned to me by any of the other doctors. Not once. I feel frustrated and have become very anxious regarding the kind of care I've received all these months, and whether or not this team of Drs really are doing their job properly. I know this is panic setting now that I'm so close to delivery, and I just don't know how to handle this situation. I feel like changing doctors as soon as tomorrow morning, but I don't know if anyone will take me this far along.

Hello worried mom!
I can understand your frustrations totally! I had a similar situation happen nearly 4 years ago with my son (who happens to be super healthy and happy)! I was 36 weeks when I "found" out from a new doctor in my group. I questioned them at the next visit and their answer soothed me. My doctors told me that they seldom worry moms these days with the news of a "EIF" as it is just one marker for a genetic abnormality..they assured me that if they had more than one marker (such as a shorter size of the finger digits or the measurement of the forehead)that it would have been disclosed and that one marker is not a true sign to worry. I took comfort in this and even more comfort when my son was born...I hope this puts your mind at as much ease as possible!

Thanks for your comforting words Serephina. I know that probably I'm blowing the whole thing a bit out of proportion, but I can't help feeling this knot in my throat at this time. I kept my cool after the appt, but I have been crying ever since I got home. I've been avoiding my husband and ignoring calls because I don't want to worry them with my fears, since everyone is so happy and excited for the baby's arrival. I too have been eagerly waiting for her to come into this world, but this whole EIF issue I never knew about has somehow created a bit of sadness in me, as well as angry feelings towards my Drs. Maybe it is just added anxiety I'm not handling very well. I will have another appt next week with one of the "old" Drs, and will ask about the reason why the findings were not discussed with me. Hopefully he can put me at ease, but I somehow fear that I will be too upset at that point to handle things nicely.
No matter what happens, I love this baby unconditionally, but this is still nerve-wrecking!

I'm happy to report that I too had a healthy, beautiful baby girl. I was told at 18 weeks about the echogenic foci and saw a specialist. Everything was fine in the end and she is completely healthy! thanks to all out there for all the support and information!