Anomoly scan needs redoing in one week as lower spine not 'quite finished forming'

[sophielouise]

Hi all, this is my first post here.. I have been scouring the internet (bad idea!) since my scan last week at 19+5. The sonographer said everything is FINE and NOT to worry at all, but she wants me to go back again next week, just to check that the spine has finished forming. In the notes it says that they need to 'assess ossification of lower spine and hips'. She said it was perfectly normal, and that it would all be normal next week.. BUT I can't help worrying of course, and have got myself all worked up!!! DH thinks I'm just being silly but I've tried looking it up and can't find anything about it... surely then this means it's not that common? I haven't found anyone else who has had a similar prob.. All I have found out is that ossification means when it turns to bone (hardens.) I wish I wasn't so paranoid about things, but of course my mind has gone to thinking about Spina Bifida etc.. As the sonographer was so relaxed about it, I will be going back for the scan on my own.. but now starting to have second thoughts.. why do we always worry when told specifically NOT to worry?! Sorry for the long post, just wondered if anyone had heard of this... Thanks xx

Full Spina Bifida would be very visible at that stage, and the sonographer would not be using the phrase "normal" if she thought that was the issue, however, there are some extremely mild forms of the condition, where the spine partially fuses, but is not 100% the way it should be - resulting problems range from the very mild to none at all. Many people with the mild forms are never diagnosed, or only diagnosed as adults, often as a "by the way" (by the way the shape of your spine suggests a mild degree of malformation/spina bifida occulta). In Adults the signs can be a stiff straight lower back, with a hairy patch at the base, maybe with a dimple at the centre of it. I know a little about this because DH has this - knew nothing about it till he was in his 30's, was told he had been "one spinich leaf away from Spina bifida" (interestingly DH sister had very severe neural tube defects), and also that there is an increased riske of spinal damage/leg weakness (ie if you were in an accident). But in 40 years hes never had a problem other than he can't touch his toes,even though he works out hard at the gym 5 days a week. Apparently such minor malformation may also mean you can't have procedures such as epidurals or spinals.

Of course it may just be the baby is behind some "average" for the rate of ossification and it's just protocol to check again in a week even though she was sure nothing was actually wrong (I'm pretty sure she would have been more neutral and less reassuring if she thought there was anything other than the most minor of problems).

Completely agree with oldmum...
Also, it is quite possible that although they want to check for fusion of the spine it's more because they can't see it rather than because it hasnt fused iyswim??

By coming back a week later baby will be a bitbigger/possibly in a better position if this was the reason for the rescan. Lots of ladies get brought back for this reason - if they were worried they would be rushing you through sooner/preparing you mentally ime.

Of course it is impossible not to worry in the meantime so i wont tell you not to!

Thank you both Old mum and Mrs S, you have both reassured me a little so thanks for taking the time to reply. Will keep you posted for the results!

When they tell you not to worry,of course you do worry.

when i had my first baby,they gave me a piece of folded up paper and told me to go in the scan room,and give this paper in,My dad had come with me this day,and he read the paper,he said whats this for,i could see he was angry,and it said.. rescan,abnormal size of head..

Well my dad went mad and said how dare they give me this bit of paper,with that written on,i was in tears and was rescanned and was told,what they ment was,the baby might have an abnormally big head for the size of the mother,as im only 5 foot,but they didnt say that.

I then worried all through until i had him,it spoilt my pregnancy,why they dont just say,i cant quite see that bit etc come back,its so unfair..

My dad wrote a letter to the head person,and after that,they changed their policy,and anyone given a letter,it was put in a sealed envelope..

Good luck,and as the other lady said they wouldnt say normal if they thought anything bad was going on x