20 week scan - echogenic bowel - scared **Update**

[geordie_gal]

Had our 20 week scan today and baby has an echogenic bowel - it can be nothing but can be a marker for downs or cystic fibrosis. Absolutely devastated.
We are getting a referral to fetal medicine for some blood tests on me and Dan then we have to decide on if we want an amnio.
Been on the verge of tears all day.
They said everything else was normal but I've used Google now I'm terrified.
Anyone know anything about this?

 

[Sherley]

I'm sorry, I have no experience, but didn't want to r&r. Big hugs xxx

 

[Pearls18]

I'm sorry I don't know anything hun but plllllleeeeease don't google, you will always find the worst case scenarios on google, good luck for your tests xxx

 

[OurLilFlu]

Hugs hugs hugs! Hopefully it's nothing! Stay away from the evil google!

 

[FeistyMom]

I'm not sure if the blood test Maternit21 or Harmony are widely available in UK, but they are a good intermediate step if you are worried about amnio. I have a completely irrational fear of amnio (and needles in general tbh), so if our integrated screen turns up high risk we'll be doing one of those blood tests, which is supposed to be very highly accurate.

Just try to take one day at a time, and try to avoid google. It is just full of the negative, when there are so many more positive stories out there!

Best wishes for you!!

 

[megrenade]

DS had an echogenic focus on his heart and he is 100% perfectly healthy. It is just a mineralization on whatever organ/part and it reflects back on the ultrasound.

Most likely nothing to worry about

 

[geordie_gal]

Thanks for all your replies.

I had the blood screening test for downs at 12 weeks and it came back 1:50,000.
We have an appointment next Monday for a more detail grade 2 scan and to get both our bloods taken and tested for the cystic fibrosis gene although noone in either of our familes has it.
Im hoping it has gone by this scan and that I can stop worrying.
I dont want this hanging over us for the next 20 weeks! x

 

[dreamer_x]

Oh sweetie never google anything like that! I know it's hard, the temptation is there, but it always makes everything worse in your head!
If your chance of having a baby with downs is 1:50,000 then it's very VERY unlikely that it will be that, my test came back as 1:6,100 and I'm low risk so you're not even on the scale for that!
As for cystic fibrosis, you could both be carriers, without anyone in your families actually having it. Try not to worry about it, I'm sure you'll be fine and your baby will be 100% healthy!
Good luck sweetie xx

 

[candyem]

So sorry you are having a stressful time. It is good that you can get tests done on Monday, hopefully they will show you that you have to worry about anything. Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[Jonesy25]

Wishing you all the luck in the world!! Hope you find out everything is fine x

 

[WantsALittle1]

Just a quick Googling of forums and many women have reported echogenic bowel at the anatomy scan and in most every case it turned out fine even when the echogenicity remained into the third tri. I think your DS risk factor is very telling, and that the odds of your baby having DS are low if you were given a 1/50000 risk. NT fold, papp-A, and hCG are likely the most reliable DS indicators and those all came back normal for you! If your baby had DS, odds are that one of those indicators would have been off hon. What was LO's NT thickness? In the US, first trimester screening also looks for other trisomies--is it the same in the UK? There are other aneuploidies associated with echogenic bowel, but again you likely would have showed an elevated risk for trisomies during the first trimester if the other indicators were there, right?

I saw some sources that say that simple meconium accumulation can cause echogenic bowel and that it can resolve as the amount of amniotic fluid increases later in the pregnancy. Like other ladies said, I would highly recommend an actual trisomy blood test (not a risk factor test like the first trimester screen) like MaterniT21 or one that detects multiple trisomies to put your mind at ease. It's good that you're getting the CF test too, and I hope you get the results soon xoxoxo

 

[JohnsonGirl]

Hi I'm sorry you're having to go through this. Just wanted to reassure you that if you choose to have an amnio it's not as scary as you think. I had to have one at 18 weeks and was terrified but it was so quick, just a pinch. Took a few minutes. The complication rate is also much lower than reported- generally 1:300 chance of mc. We had results 3 days later- all clear thankfully- so we were at peace quickly.
Hope you don't need one but don't stress too much if it comes to it xxx

 

[geordie_gal]

Got a phone call yesterday and neither me or Dan are carriers of the most common 54 strains of CF which is all they test for.
The infection screening also came back clear so they said they will see us in another 5 weeks for another scan and hopefully it will have gone.
They said if not, its most probably merconium and nothing to worry about, the main thing they were worried about was CF and the liklihood of him having one of the rare strains they didnt screen for is 0.1%
SO RELIEVED.
Felt like I could breathe for the first time in weeks and actually fell asleep last night.
The next 5 weeks cant go fast enough though, I can't wait to see him again and hopefully everything will be all clear! x

 

[Blessedbaby]

so happy you got back positive news

 

[WantsALittle1]

So happy to hear this! That is wonderful news. I bet it is meconium! Have they said what they will do if it's meconium? (i.e will they defo be doing a C-section?)

 

[geordie_gal]

They haven't said.
I spoke to my sister who is a midwife and she said it will probably be gone at next scan, she said its more than likely blood from a little bleed that I won't have noticed.
She said if it is merconium they will see if he can poo OK before they release me from hospital and may repeat the scan after birth.
Im hoping its gone at the next scan coz I really wanted to try for a waterbirth in the birthing centre, that way my OH won't have to leave after visiting hours x

 

[PierceWife]

Why would he have to leave???

 

[geordie_gal]

Here in the UK (I dont know about the US) after you have given birth when you are put on the ward the visiting hours are between 8am and 8pm, therefore my OH would be asked to leave the hospital between these times. I got told if I gave birth at say 10pm they would allow Dan 1-2 hours with us then ask him to leave and tell him to come back at 8am.
The birthing centre don't ask them to leave at any point, they can stay with you all the time until you are discharged x

 

[PierceWife]

Oh well that's a bummer! Yes here they can stay as long as they like. Most birthing suites have pull out beds etc.

Anyways glad to hear all is well! Hope the next few weeks fly by for you in to get the extra reassurance!

 

[WantsALittle1]

That's awful, geordie_gal When DD was born, DH was given a bed right next to mine and he spent every night in the hospital with me.

I'm so sad to hear that! I can't believe they won't let him stay with you--a new mom needs lots of emotional support from her partner!