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12 week scan - fluid behind neck and on abdomen

33 replies

Mummatoawesomeboys · 01/05/2018 16:15

Hi all,

I have read many threads on high fluid readings but the posts seem quite old. Here is my story so far...

Last Thursday I went for my 12 week scan and found out I’m 12 weeks and 5 days :)

Everything seemed very positive until she did the neck fluid reading. She also noticed some fluid on the baby’s tummy. She said normal readings were 3.5mm or below and our baby had a reading of 4.1. She asked me how I had been feeling and weather I had had an infection recently. I said no but I am a primary school teacher so I am around all sorts all day long.

We then got taken through to another lady (forgive me as I can’t remember her job title but I imagine she was some sort of genetic specialist).

She wasn’t all doom and gloom and talked us through the possible reasons for our higher than expected readings. They ranged from:
~ chance of DS, Edward’s or Pat
~ viral infection
~ heart problems
~ nothing wrong

The baby is the right size and had a nose plate but she recommended I do the combined bloods testing and virus bloods testing. We then talked about the Harmony test too (private testing which is more accurate as it actually tests baby’s blood for the three main chromosome problems).

She spoke about Cvs and Amnio but said she thought as the margin wasn’t massive, doing bloods first would be a good idea and then to decide from there. She also booked us a 16 week scan and said we would probably have an fetal echo too.

I am absolutely gutted and so anxious. Luckily, I have two beautiful, healthy boys (4 and 7) already so I know I’ve had a lucky ride before.

I’m just so frightened. I’m actually more frightened I’ve had some virus that I didn’t know about and that is could cause a miscarriage or birth defects.

Has anyone else been through this? Has anyone else had NHS test and Harmony results that didn’t match? (Also a worry).

Should I just have the amnio anyway?

We were meant to tell people at the weekend and we saw family but obviously didn’t say anything. It was so hard. I know we will need their support either way but we thought we would wait until at least the chromosome tests came back.

My partner is incredible and has been wonderful but in finding it so hard not to talk to the rest of my support network (Mum and sister etc). Mum was a midwife so I know she would be useful but she has been through a lot recently and I don’t want to add to her sad news.

Thanks for your time.

One worried Mumma xx

OP posts:
Valwithhope · 05/09/2023 17:31

@Mummatoawesomeboys I know it has been ages, but how did it turned out everything after your results and about the fluid in the abdomen? Hope you Re all doing well. X

Steph2408 · 17/09/2024 14:32

Valwithhope · 05/09/2023 15:31

I know this is a longshot as this thread hasn't been seen by anyone for 5 years now but I'm desperate for some positiveness or just to believe I have hopes and some of these stories I read helped a little.
Just had my 12 + 4 weeks scan yesterday and baby has hight NT under the neck 4.5mm septated and found some fluid around the abdomen and chest. I'm absolutely in bits...my worst nightmare became reality and had the worst 24hours. I got an appointment for fetal medicine tomorrow morning but I'm not sure what will I hear.. how bad is this?! I know it's bad, but do I still keep my hopes up? I don't know how to process this. I have opted for CVS already as I'm pretty sure they will offer it so I don't want to waste time.if that's what they think the best is to do. I don't know how to process this.

Edited

How did you get on? I am in exactly your situation. Hope everything went well with you x

Valwithhope · 17/09/2024 20:51

@Steph2408 so sorry you are going through this. Reading my post back bring back some seriously difficult memories!

I had CVS following day at FM and all resultd came back clear. 20 weeks scan was all good followed by a heart scan which was also clear. After these scans I finally started to enjoy my pregnancy and I have the most perfect 6 months old baby boy now. The rest of the pregnancy went fine and he was growing absolutely fine. Easier said than done and especially looking back now but I wish I wouldn't have let spoil half of my pregnancy but it is incredibly scary and they made it much worse with the scans than it was! There is hope please hold onto that. Did they refer you to Fetal Medicine? Sending you strength x

Steph2408 · 18/09/2024 07:51

Valwithhope · 17/09/2024 20:51

@Steph2408 so sorry you are going through this. Reading my post back bring back some seriously difficult memories!

I had CVS following day at FM and all resultd came back clear. 20 weeks scan was all good followed by a heart scan which was also clear. After these scans I finally started to enjoy my pregnancy and I have the most perfect 6 months old baby boy now. The rest of the pregnancy went fine and he was growing absolutely fine. Easier said than done and especially looking back now but I wish I wouldn't have let spoil half of my pregnancy but it is incredibly scary and they made it much worse with the scans than it was! There is hope please hold onto that. Did they refer you to Fetal Medicine? Sending you strength x

Thanks for your reply.

Aww that’s so great to hear. Really happy for you. Congratulations on your wee boy!

Our NT was 4.7mm and some fluid in the chest. The screening midwife was really good and has said she has seen a lot worse and everything turned out fine. So holding on to that that too.

I have the CVS tomorrow so will see what comes back. I have everything crossed it will be okay. Trying not to get too down about it and have a 1 year old to distract me.

Thank you x

Valwithhope · 19/09/2024 14:32

Steph2408 · 18/09/2024 07:51

Thanks for your reply.

Aww that’s so great to hear. Really happy for you. Congratulations on your wee boy!

Our NT was 4.7mm and some fluid in the chest. The screening midwife was really good and has said she has seen a lot worse and everything turned out fine. So holding on to that that too.

I have the CVS tomorrow so will see what comes back. I have everything crossed it will be okay. Trying not to get too down about it and have a 1 year old to distract me.

Thank you x

Yes, we had very similar, but my screening was terrible. The sonographer was awful and the midwife was so miserable they already wrote him down. I tried to ask them if we have much chance or how bad this is but she wasn't very optimistic and just keep saying will see at FM. But FM was fantastic and very caring and felt so much more positive when we left.
They didn't even mention the fluid in the chest or abdomen so don't know what that was about!

Hope your CVS went try to rest after and just stay positive. What did they say at FM? Keep us posted X

Steph2408 · 19/09/2024 15:55

Valwithhope · 19/09/2024 14:32

Yes, we had very similar, but my screening was terrible. The sonographer was awful and the midwife was so miserable they already wrote him down. I tried to ask them if we have much chance or how bad this is but she wasn't very optimistic and just keep saying will see at FM. But FM was fantastic and very caring and felt so much more positive when we left.
They didn't even mention the fluid in the chest or abdomen so don't know what that was about!

Hope your CVS went try to rest after and just stay positive. What did they say at FM? Keep us posted X

So sorry to hear that. No one has been negative with me thankfully - that just makes it so much worse!

All the screening midwife’s have been great. I’ve never heard anyone say foetal medicine here, so maybe we don’t have that in Aberdeen.

I noticed it said ‘hydrops’ on my consent form, so presuming that’s a little more serious than just fluid on the chest, like they first suggested.

I should have the first results by Monday or Tuesday. Fingers crossed it all comes quickly.

The CVS was pretty horrid. It took 3 times to get tissue and I felt really sick after. But home now chilling on the sofa.

Will do. Thanks for chatting. 🙂 X

Valwithhope · 22/09/2024 21:03

Steph2408 · 19/09/2024 15:55

So sorry to hear that. No one has been negative with me thankfully - that just makes it so much worse!

All the screening midwife’s have been great. I’ve never heard anyone say foetal medicine here, so maybe we don’t have that in Aberdeen.

I noticed it said ‘hydrops’ on my consent form, so presuming that’s a little more serious than just fluid on the chest, like they first suggested.

I should have the first results by Monday or Tuesday. Fingers crossed it all comes quickly.

The CVS was pretty horrid. It took 3 times to get tissue and I felt really sick after. But home now chilling on the sofa.

Will do. Thanks for chatting. 🙂 X

That's very good!

Oh I see! Its specialized clinic that's where everyone being sent if you have a high risk or difficult pregnancy and then when I was discharged after 28 weeks they sent me back to my local hospital for the rest of the pregnancy.

Well we had hydrops and cystic hygroma fact sheets attached to our files and it was also flagged by the sonographer but then when we seen the consultant he didn't mention hydrops or hygroma so fingers that's the case with yours too.

Im sorry the CVS was difficult. Luckily mine was very smooth and took the sample first try And I was completely fine after! Just try to take it easy for a while now and will cross everything for your results!!

Anytime, happy to help even just by chatting X

Stacyxo · 25/01/2025 20:18

i went for my 12 week scan and was advised that baby has a lot of fluid around neck head and stomach. She also measured me at only 11+1 was I was not expecting either since I had my 9 week scan 3 weeks ago.
i have been offered a CVS which I will be getting done on Tuesday.
im worried sick, they lady did not give me any pictures home and everything seemed very negative, which makes me thinks somethings wrong…
has anyone here had anymore experience regarding this or similar?

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