Scared
We had our 16 week sonogram the other day. It was eventful in that I threw up during it (you know how I love public vomiting) and after we spent a half an hour watching the pretty pictures of our babies looking like babies, the doctor told us... that Baby B has Single Umbilical Artery (SUA), which means that it has 2 blood vessels in its umbilical cord, not three. Most of the time this doesn't affect anything, but sometimes it can be linked to heart defects and just having one kidney. I was so surprised to hear this, mostly because I'd forgotten that we were there to check on the babies' development. I completely forgot that they might have birth defects! Everybody has told me for so long that such wracking nausea means lots of hormones, which means a healthy pregnancy. The doc told us that so far, the heart looks just fine, though I guess he couldn't see the kidney yet. He said he'd check again at our next appointment (3-4 weeks) just to make sure everything was turning out fine. I comforted James that heart defects are structural things that are easy to fix, either with medicine or with surgery. And kidneys, who needs more than one anyway? But then yesterday I went online to see more about SUA, something that James didn't want to do because he didn't want to freak himself out. I freaked myself out. This affects about 1 percent of live births, and 5 percent of multiple births. It's more common for pregnant mothers who are white (me) and over 40 (not me), and more common when the affected baby is a girl. (Don't know about that). Beyond the heart and kidney problems that the doctor mentioned, there can also be other structural or neurological problems, like spina bifida and lots of other things I'd never heard of. (Pretty sure our babies' spines are okay because we did a nuchal translucency test a while ago that turned out fine). But here's the clincher. Sometimes SUA is associated with chromosomal defects, like missing the 13th or 18th chromosome. We screened for some chromosomal defects in a blood test, and ruled out Downs, but I don't know about the others. A chromosomal defect is so scary... SO SCARY because there's nothing to be done about it! I remember back when James and I hadn't been through nearly as much hell trying to conceive. We thought that if we got pregnant with a child who turned out to have Down Syndrome, we would abort it. Ha. NOT BABY B. I love Baby B more than anything (except Baby A, whom I love equally). I could never, never hurt Baby B. I hate this. Worrying surely doesn't help. And beyond that, there's nothing to be done except to take care of my little babies as well as I can from the outside. So I'm going to have some breakfast and take my vitamins. It's the least I can do. (I'm posting pictures of the ultrasounds).
Replies
Take a slow, deep breath!
I hate how everything w/ pregnancy can either mean nothing at all, or something really bad. And the kicker is, there\'s no way of knowing which is which until delivery usually. You\'re so right, that there is so much modern medicine to fix kidney problems & heart defects; but also just remember that you have been given THIS baby, and not any other baby to love. There\'s a reason for that. It all boils down to the fact that you already love baby B, you won\'t hurt baby B, and you can\'t do anything else about the SUA until the pregnancy progresses and you can get more in-detailed u/s to see what you\'re up against. You\'re already a wonderful mother to those little nuggets! Just take care of yourself and try to keep the worrying to a minimum for now... ( I know, easier said than done...)
I agree with Ms H. It\'s YOUR baby and you love it/them no matter what. Hopefully the next US will show nothing to worry about and you\'ll be able to see more of what is going on.
Take a momnet to catch your breath!!! The internet can scare the crap out of you so stop doing research Miss former lawyer!!! My good friend had identical twin girls a year and a half ago and one of the girls had SUA. They monitered my friend closely and she went for ultrasounds every other week. I am pleased to say that both girls are healthy and growing like weeds. Please take care of yourself and those babies. You know as well as I do that stress if not a good thing right now. Turn off your computer and just pray. Every thing is going to be okay.
I agree, don\'t do any more internet research. I\'ve seen plenty of ladies on the pregnancy after infertility board that have had babies with that and everything came out fine. I know it\'s scary, but it could always turn out that everything will be just fine.
Ahhh the wonderful internet. I\'m so sorry that you have to hear this inconclusive information. I know it will be a long 3-4 weeks for you until they view the kidneys. I am here to tell you though, I have been a labor/delivery nurse for over 11 years. I have seen a 2 vessel cord many many times. They have always been in healthy babies. I know it\'s going to be a worrisome time, but what I know about you is what a strong person you are, and James, and what a strong marraige you have, that should there be a heart defect, or a kidney one, and I will be hoping that that\'s not the case, I know you guys will get through it. As far as the chromosome disorders, I just googled the nuchal translucency screen, and it appears to check for abnormalities on the 13th and 18th chromosome, too. I am thinking of you my friend.
Pregnancy is such a scary thing. I am supposed to deliver this Friday and am still scared that something is going to happen or go wrong. I really think that some of the tests that are performed really don\'t need to be because they just make you more scared, especially when things come out normal. Please hang in there and keep the updates coming. My prayers to you for VERY healthy babies and that this is just \"one of those things\". BIG HUGS!