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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

20 week scan - echogenic bowel

53 replies

ipredicttrouble · 04/02/2011 11:19

I was wondering if anyone out there has had any experience of an echogenic bowel discovered at the 20 wk scan.

I had my scan yesterday and this was detected. In addition, the measurements for the head and abdomen were on the small side.

This has totally knocked me for six. We are currently waiting for an appt to see a consultant.

I'm trying not to google too much but it's hard not to.

I'd appreciate any comments from anyone who's been in a similar situation.

Thank you

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Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 10/02/2011 08:26

Thank you Lady - glad to hear that your DD is healthy.

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knackered76 · 10/02/2011 13:37

Glad you're feeling calmer after your appointment. Fingers crossed for the results coming back soon and good luck with the next scan.

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 11/02/2011 19:16

Thanks knackered - we'll see what the next scan and blood tests come up with! Definitely trying to adopt a more positive approach

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Dannygirl · 11/02/2011 21:07

Just wanted to add another reassuring story. At our 20 week scan we were told there was a shadow on the baby's bowel which was a marker for CF / Downs etc. We had the same blood tests as you ipredicttrouble and had a very long 2 week wait for the CF results. Thankfully they came back negative and then I couldn't face having an amnio. I too had had really reassuring results at the 12 week stage so I just felt everything would be OK. Thankfully it was, DS is now a healthy 3.5 yr old with no health problems, and we have never found out what that shadow on his bowel was all about. Really good luck with your tests, big hugs x

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 13/02/2011 08:00

Thank you Dannygirl, it's great to hear so many reassuring stories like this. Glad that you had such a positive outcome.

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mintyneb · 14/02/2011 19:09

ipredict, i'm not sure I can help ease your worries but wanted to say that I too have a DD (now 3.10yo) who has CF. She had a perfectly normal anomoly scan and ended up being induced 10 days overdue. She unfortunately had to have surgery at 3 days old due to a blocked bowel and was subsequently diagnosed with CF at 3 weeks.

So i guess what I am saying is that she is the flip side to the stories you have heard and hopefully means that whilst something has been picked up in your scan it could be that everything is actually OK.

But on a very positive note, DD is thriving despite a dairy allergy (totally unrelated) screwing up her diet and is probably fitter than most of her peers. She has probably only had about 5 temperatures in her life and has never had a chest infection. She does suffer with her bowels - not surprising given her rocky start - but that can be managed.

We are under the care of an excellent team at one of the best specialist CF centres and the prognosis for children with CF is definitely not as bleak as it once was.

good luck with the test tesults, it must be such a worrying time for you

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 15/02/2011 15:10

Minty, thank you for your post. It is interesting & helpful to read your post and how positive you sound. It's great to hear that your DD is really thriving. We're still waiting for the results of our blood tests but if the news isn't favourable I may be contacting you again for information. If that's alright with you?

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mintyneb · 15/02/2011 16:35

ipredict, of course you can ask away if and when you need to. I will be watching this thread anyway as am keen to find out the results of your tests.

i don't know how much you have been told about the blood tests? There are basically well over 1000 different mutations of the CF gene although about 80 - 85% of us carry the most common one (Delta F508 to give it its technical name!). the blood tests will look at the x most common mutations which may or may not bring back matches. I know where a baby has already been born and diagnosed via the heel prick test, more than one round of testing - looking at progressively less common mutations - will take place until both mutations are identified but I don't know if this is the case when the baby is in utero.

remember, if only one mutation is found its possible that the baby will just be a carrier and as such should have no health troubles (CF wise that is)

once again, good luck and hope you are not kept waiting too long. At least I was spared the agony you are now going through as i had a 'normal' pregnancy with no sign that anything was wrong!

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 15/02/2011 18:11

TBH we haven't been told anything about the blood tests. I'm hoping that they will explain everything when the results come in.

I shall definitely post an update when we hear something.

Thanks for your interest and posts. It's helps to have other people to 'talk' to.

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MaisieBean · 16/02/2011 22:22

Hi ipredicttrouble, I'm going through exactly the same as you at the moment - echogenic bowel picked up at 20 week scan and now waiting for results of blood tests and another growth scan on 28/02. I'm afraid I don't have anything reassuring to add to your post as we're as in the dark as you re: blood test results, but I just wanted you to know that you're not alone.

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 17/02/2011 09:53

Maisiebean, thank you so much for posting. I'm sorry that you're going through this too but it is reassuring to know that there are others in the same situation (hope that comes across in the right way ).

Anyway, I hope you're ok and please keep me posted about how you get on.

When was your 20 wk scan? Is this your first DD?

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Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 17/02/2011 09:54

Meant DC not DD!

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Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 21/02/2011 17:18

Just a quick update for those who have kindly read and/or posted on my thread.

Well, the hospital rang today with results from our blood tests. And the news is good! We have both tested negative for the cystic fibrosis gene and they haven't detected any infections in my blood. Apparently I'm already immune to anything they look out for.

So, I've got my next scan 3 wks today where they'll check the growth of the baby's head and also have a closer look at my placenta/cord.

Other than that, I'm starting to think that we MAY (??) fall into the 90% category where the echogenic bowel doesn't actually lead to complications. Obviously, Down Syndrome is still a risk but given our initial odds of 1:100,000 I feel this is unlikely.
There is also the possibility that the bright spot on the bowel indicates growth probelms.

Can you tell I'm trying to be optimistic here?!

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mintyneb · 21/02/2011 20:50

ipredict, thats fantastic news about the CF!! thanks for coming back to update us.

Fingers crossed that you can start to settle back and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and that you are indeed just one of the 10%.

good luck with the next few months and enjoy your baby when it finally arrives :)

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 21/02/2011 20:57

Thanks minty, it is a relief. Though it would be nice to know for definite why the baby has an echogenic bowel.

However, I do feel a lot more relaxed already.

How is your DD at the moment? Hope she is well.

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Dannygirl · 21/02/2011 21:02

BRILLIANT news I am soooo pleased for you x

mintyneb · 21/02/2011 21:03

DD has a really nasty wet cough at the moment that she's had for about ten days now. It's probably the result of a virus but she had to do a cough swab last week to see if its a bacterial infection.Fingers crossed its not

She had to have a blood test last week for her 'annual review', tomorrow we are at a hospital to see a gastro specialist and then next week she's at the specialist CF centre for her annual review proper involving xrays and tests etc so its a pretty crap time of year :-(

see I can tell you this now that I don't have to worry about scaring you

But through it all DD is an absolute star albeit a little madam at times but someone who makes me laugh out loud every day so I can't really complain

thanks for asking!

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 22/02/2011 07:33

That sounds really tough for you both minty but you sound like you cope with it all really well.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that she doesn't have a bacterial infection.

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knackered76 · 22/02/2011 09:16

Hooray! That sounds like good news to me :) I'd take the odds of being in the 90% all good zone. Given your odds on downs that seems highly unlikely so fingers crossed for it being just one of those (highly stressful for you but fine for the baby) things. You have every right to go with the optimism

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 22/02/2011 16:00

Thank you knackered

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Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 04/04/2011 20:56

Hi again,

I just wanted to give a little update for anyone who had originally read my thread or anyone out there who perhaps is in a similar situation.

Well, I'm now 28+ weeks and have had 2 further scans following the initial 20wk scan where the echogenic bowel was discovered.

At the most recent scan the baby is still measuring on the small side (10th centile), weighing approximately 1lb12oz. The head is also still on the small side but the consultant told me that as the baby is breech and this could be exerting different pressures on the head and therefore accounting for the small measurement.

In addition to this, I also have a small notch in my umbilical cord and there is a small dilation on the baby's bowel.

Anyway, just an update. Would be grateful though if anyone with any experience has any observations/comments.

I'm going to be scanned at 4 weekly intervals until baby arrives...the next one is next week.

Thanks for reading.

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cowboylover · 05/04/2011 00:52

Thanks for the update, I was a reader more than a poster but wanted to say hello.

My friend had the same with her DS and was worried sick for the whole time and the same as you had regular growth scans, she was told to be prepared for a tiny baby that may need some extra help when he was born.

On her due date she went into labour and had a very healthy 6lb 8oz baby so not tiny and now at 7 months old is still as happy and perfect as he always is so I hope it works out the same for you all.

Look forward to reading updates later on

Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 05/04/2011 20:26

Thanks for posting cowboy, it's really good to hear positive stories.

I shall post another update after my scan next week

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Original poster

ipredicttrouble · 13/04/2011 11:37

Just a little update for those who are interested.

I had another follow up growth scan this morning (I'm 30 wks tomorrow). Baby is growing well and following it's line on the growth chart. It now weighs nearly 3lb . It has also turned so is no longer breech, phew!

There are still 3 small dilations on it's bowel, however these are within a normal range so the consultant didn't seem to think they'd pose a problem. They will keep an eye on it and reassess if they get any bigger. They haven't grown at all over the last 4 weeks so that's really positive.

Thanks to those who are reading

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cowboylover · 13/04/2011 18:23

Great news x

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