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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Antenatal tests

Abnormality at 20wk anomaly scan

40 replies

Dolly80 · 18/11/2015 16:44

I had my 20wk anomaly scan today. Initially seen by sonographer, who told me the consultant was needed to review baby's brain as she couldn't scan it as clearly as she'd like. Fortunately, consultant was free and we we're seen by him straight away. He re-scanned and informed there was a partial absence of the corpus callosum and I would be referred to a fetal medicine unit.

He was really helpful and informed that perhaps this part of the brain is not fully developed yet (this occurs up to 22wks) He described the abnormality as not being 'major' although added that worst case scenario would be baby has learning difficulties (I think 'major' would be something that compromised foetal life). He advised I will initially be rescanned by specialists and possibly have MRI.

So, it's a question of waiting and trying not to worry. Any advice how I can do this? What can I do to occupy myself so it's not on my mind (which will be difficult I know!) Work full time and have a 3yr old at home do that will help but if anyone has any ideas they'd be greatly appreciated!

Also, although most people don't know about my scan (I'm not an update every part of my pregnancy on Facebook kind of person) what should I say is someone asks? Have told my mum and best mate what happened but would rather leave it at that until I've had re-scan. So tactics on how to manage this would also be helpful.

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ASAS · 30/11/2015 22:20

See what the consultant says on Thursday. They might say something like, "1 in every 100,000 babies has absent corpus callosum, it's fairly common for a consultant to know of, but of course very traumatic for parents having never heard of it. Your baby, like all babies, might be fine."

Incidentally, common or not, you've found us here. And we all have happy endings so hopefully that gives you hope.

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ASAS · 30/11/2015 22:37

And there's nothing like a "biological mystery" is there?

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Dolly80 · 01/12/2015 11:25

Thanks ASAS. That stuff about the 'biological mystery' is interesting. I'm sure even neurologists would concede there's lots they still don't know about the brain.

I keep thinking of what your dad says...there's certainly no worry like parenting even before they're born!

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ASAS · 01/12/2015 14:00

I don't know why I started googling, and I probably shouldn't have because it's just brought it all back, but it made me think maybe my boy is fine in his own way, not in the textbook way. What is they looked at his function rather than his anatomy, and it lit up in the bits it shouldn't? But he's just lying there, chatting away (choose a language) having walked in, played in the waiting room etc. They can only tell us what they KNOW is normal, they can't tell how there's different ways to learn normal. I don't know, this is a bit of a string of words. But your baby's brain might be able to lit up in it's own unique way too, and no one would know the difference.

Anyway, how are you feeling about tomorrow?

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ASAS · 01/12/2015 14:01

Sorry, that truly was a string of nonsense.

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Dolly80 · 01/12/2015 16:51

Not nonsense at all ASAS. What is normal? Who decides what it is? What if we don't agree? Surely we all think we're the normal ones and everyone else is different/strange/wrong regardless of our own abilities. ----

A friend and I were talking the other day and she said she thinks everyone has some kind of learning need because we're all unique and can't possibly have a uniform way of thinking etc. Perhaps she was trying to make me feel better, but I thought she had an interesting point.

Consultant appointment is not until Thursday. Back to work tomorrow. Was supposed to be in today but took a day off as I wasn't in the best place earlier (lots of tears) but have perked up now (another friend bought me some chocolates so that helped ). ----

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Dolly80 · 01/12/2015 16:52

Argh - That obviously isn't all supposed to be lined through. Stupid Mumsnet app & iphone!

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Dolly80 · 01/12/2015 16:57

Right let's try that bit again...

A friend and I were talking the other day and she said she thinks everyone has some kind of learning need because we're all unique and can't possibly have a uniform way of thinking etc. Perhaps she was trying to make me feel better but I thought she had an interesting point.

Consultant appointment is not until Thursday. Back to work tomorrow. Was supposed to be in today but took a day off as I wasn't in the best place earlier (lots of tears ) but have perked up now (another friend bought me some chocolates so that helped )----

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ASAS · 01/12/2015 17:35

Tomorrow was supposed to say Thursday. Told you, string of words. There is apparently a GP in the north of England with no corpus callosum, could be mythical but apparently he found out by accident, no concerns, still practising etc

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Dolly80 · 03/12/2015 23:46

Really long day but just to quickly update. Ended up having an amnio today. In addition will see consultant again in about 8 weeks for further ultrasound and likely to have another MRI after that too. Of course, if anything comes up in amnio there might be appts in between that.

Exhausted but found a support group for ACC on Facebook & a charity that works with families/ children with the condition. I'm also going to contact one of the community midwives tomorrow to get some advice re: local support.

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