Echogenic Bowel & Early Induction

[AdiVic]

Hello - I am currently 24 wks p and at 14 weeks had a scan which showed an Echogenic bowel. I also had an amnio which excluded any chromosomal abnormalities. My consultant says that an EB CAN indicate the placenta not working properly in later stages and she wants to induce at 38wks. She has also said that there is an 8% chance of stillbirth or neo natal death after birth with the EB - hence why they want to induce early. I was induced with my 1st at 41wk 4 days and from start to finish it took 6hrs. I'm concerned the induction may not work if done early, and they have warned that I may need a CS. I want to avoid a CS at all costs, as my previous job in trauma/wound care dressings bought me into contact with such ops and the risks (it's major surgery!!!). I'm really worried about it and would like to hear if anyone has been through anything similar (not the CS, the early induction and EB syndrome). Many thanks xxx

My baby had an EB diagnosed at 20 week scan and I had a variety of tests done. I was told it could be one of 5 things..... 1) Nothing at all and it spontaneously resolves, 2) chromosomal abnormalities (I had amnio too after nuchal scan so that was immediately disregarded) 3) sign of bleeding in early pregnancy 4) sign of active infection (they tested me for a variety of things like toxoplasmosis, parvo virus etc) 5) Cystic Fibrosis. I and DP had tests and we had the all clear and when we went back for scan at 28/29 weeks the EB had gone (as predicted by consultant). there was no discussion of early induction at all? I'm no expert but I'm sure someone can offer more information or advice but worth asking what can cause EB.

Hello - thank you for your reply. I have had all of the above already excluded, and apparently an early EB (say at 14 weeks) can indicate a development problem, or prob with the placenta later on in pregnancy. My EB had gone by 20 weeks. Surely they wouldnt' fuss over this for no reason. They have explained in detail, but still seems odd to me. Who'd have thought being P can be so hard sometimes!

When I had my amnio last week, I was talking to the consultant (he is a fetal medicine consultant not just obs&gynae) about the soft markers for chromosomal / development abnormalities; I was concerned about it as I had a normal NT measurement but weird blood test results. He said that in a 'post-scanning' population (i.e. live births) the soft markers including EB had no significance, and in the absence of any other abnormalities could be excluded as cause for concern.
I'm not sure if this is totally relevant to you, but I hope it gives you some reassurance x

Hi,
This link may provide you with some further information :

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528320/pdf/archdischfn00067-0003.pdf

The are additional considerations when deciding for an elective early induction eg. Higher intervention rates (assisted births & em.CSection) & the implications for future births. It may be reasonable to defer the decision on elective early IOL until later when it will be apparent if the pregnancy is :

• proceeding normally and baby growing as expected
• additional problems are arising which would also favour IOL
• an assessment of the cervix (unripe cervix = higher likelihood for intervention)

Regards
SC