Anatomy Ultrasound . . .

Since Danny and I found out the gender early in February we didn't think it was necessary to look for a babysitter for both Danny and I to be at the twenty week appointment. The anatomy ultrasound happened on Thursday March 15th. Danny stayed at home to be with Addie, Hudson and Georgia. By the end of that appointment though I had wished that Danny was with me instead. I've never encountered problems during the ultrasound with Addie or Hudson so this visit was new to me. Baby Bean appeared healthy and growing right on track but there was a minor health issue concerning baby's kidneys. Both of them. I learned at that ultrasound that both the left and the right kidney had backed up fluids in them above the range the doctor would like it at. The ultrasound tech highly encouraged that I take the Quad Screening Test to rule out Down Syndrome. I drove home in shock and after realized that I didn't ask any questions. Truth is I couldn't think of any at the time. Danny and I talked it over and decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get the blood work done for the screening test to determine whether or not Down Syndrome was going to be something our baby would have to live with. With my previous two pregnancies we opted out and didn't think much of it but the tech felt I should do it since this baby was showing markers for it. I had six days to decide if I was going to do the test or not because they only do it before the twenty one week mark. I went in the very next day and got it done. I really wanted to talk to the doctor but the office was so busy that day and there was only one doctor in the office so I wrote a message on a post it note and left it with his receptionist. I also confided in a friend from the ward and was able to sort through my feelings regarding my baby's health. I made a decision that I wasn't going to inform our families at this point. I wanted to be given more information before letting everybody know about the kidneys. All I knew was that the baby had excess fluids in both kidneys but I didn't know the specifics of it. I didn't know how much fluid was in them, what the normal range was supposed to be, what the diagnosis was, if one kidney was worse than the other and what this would mean for the baby. The doctor called me back around 7pm that night (Friday the 16th) but unfortunately I was not with my phone so a message was left. I was informed that I would receive results from the Quad Test in seven days and that I would be able to talk more in depth with the doctor upon receiving the results. I thought I was going to have to wait until the following Friday and was dreading the long week ahead. I turned to google which was not a good idea. Of course I found all the worst case scenarios possible - kidney failure, down syndrome, and different surgeries. I spent the next four (felt like forever) nights online when I should have been sleeping but the hardest part was not knowing where in the spectrum my baby was as far as how much fluids he had in his kidneys. 

Fortunately I didn't have to wait a week for the results. I got the call from my doctor on March 20th the following Tuesday. The results from the testing came back normal. Our baby did not have down syndrome. The test also concluded that my baby did not have Trisomy 18 or a Neural Tube Defect (open spine). I learned that the backed up fluids in the baby's kidneys was called Pyelectasis. The normal measurements they'd like to see is under 4.0mm. My baby's left kidney measured at 5.2mm and the right kidney was 5.3mm. They were both very similar and in the mild range which is good. Well not good but 7 is considered bad and 10 is severe so I'm thankful the numbers weren't as high as it could be. The doctor feels that this could resolve itself by 32 weeks. Then he told me about the other news. He told me the ultrasound also showed a cyst in the baby's brain. I had no idea. I didn't even know you could have a cyst in your brain but my baby was showing that he did. This condition is called Choroid Plexus Cyst. He told me not to worry but that he was going to refer me to a high risk specialist for a further in depth evaluation and monitoring. He informed me that even though my baby does not have Down's or Trisomy 18 the findings with the kidneys and his brain could be a result of a different chromosomal problem. I decided right then and there that I was going to avoid Google until I could meet with the specialist. Doing my own research on the Internet when I found out about the kidneys was not the best thing for me and created a lot of worry and anxiety. I didn't want the same thing to happen with this new information about the baby's brain until I could hear straight from the specialist how mild or severe this case was. 

I had to wait two weeks before I could get in to see the high risk specialist which was scheduled for yesterday April 4th. Danny took the morning off work to come with me. Jill watched Addie and Hudson while we left for the hospital. I wasn't sure how to feel before getting baby bean up on that screen. I was excited to see him again, nervous to learn more about his brain and anxious to see if his fluid levels had decreased at all. The best news was that the ultrasound showed nothing wrong with his brain. No sign of a cyst anywhere. It was completely gone! In a lot of cases fetuses with a Choroid Plexus Cyst usually are free of them by 32 weeks and thankfully for my sanity our baby's was gone within two weeks of me finding out about it. I was happy about that. Now I won't have to worry myself reading horror stories of worst case scenarios. I didn't know anything about cysts in brains (and still don't) but anything concerning the brain at all seems terrifying to me. That was a huge blessing to happen so soon after hearing about it. Now as for the kidneys . . . they are still not where they are supposed to be BUT they also aren't measuring at a 7 which is great - or at least something I can handle. At twenty weeks the right kidney measured at 5.3mm and at this appointment the right kidney measured at 5.1mm. So that was a slight improvement and in the right direction. At twenty weeks the left kidney measured 5.2mm and yesterday it was 5.8mm. The high risk doctor was able to speak to us and he also felt confident that by 32 weeks the baby's kidneys will improve and be able to drain themselves properly. He told me that baby is considered healthy and told me to stay off the Internet for the next eight weeks. He even had me repeat out loud "baby is healthy" haha. I do feel mostly at peace about it all. Of course I still worry a little. I think I would worry less if it was just one kidney struggling to drain itself but since it's both of them I can't help but feel a little cautious. The great thing though is that the doctor went over what would happen if this does not resolve itself by birth. If baby is born with Pyelectasis then he'll be referred to a pediatric urologist to determine whether he'll need to be put on medication or see if surgery will be needed to put in a stint which would help drain his kidneys to his bladder. From everything I've read online I'm grateful that this would be the worst case scenario if it comes to it. I have a follow up evaluation in their same office scheduled for May 30th when I'll be closer to 32 weeks along. 

His little profile. His face was hiding against the placenta the entire appointment.

Last week I went to the temple and put Baby Bean's name on their prayer roll and this week my parents did the same so Baby Bean you have a lot of prayers happening on your behalf from temples all over the world. I'm hopeful for you and feel at peace concerning your health and future. Now if only we had an official name for you. I'm convinced your name might actually be Bean. :)