Help - 20wk scan showed increased ventricle size

[bushymcbush]

Has anyone else had this?

Apparently a normal upper limit is 10mm. My baby's measured at 12mm which is in the borderline range.

I have turned down an amniocentesis on the basis that there was nothing else unusual in the scan and I wouldn't terminate unless there was a condition that was incompatible with life.

I would appreciate your experiences / hand holding please. Feeling a bit wobbly.

Hi

Have they offered you any further scans? This showed up on my 20 week scan it was both ventricles and I also declined amnio, I cant remember what the measurements were but I had to go for scans with a neuro consultant every 4 weeks from then on.

They were checking the fluid levels were not increasing and in my case they stayed the same. This was 13 years ago and my DC was healthy and 'normal' despite lots of complications being suggested as a possible outcome.

I have also recently spoken to another mum at school who went through the same with her DC,again with a positive outcome. Try not to panic, what have they advised for future care?

Do you know if you are having a boy or girl?

(reaches out and takes bushys hand)

bushymcbushy

First off, I am really sorry that this is happening to you, but please be reassured that there are others that have been through a similar experience and have very happy endings. I have been one such person and I know of another who was in the exact same situation in my close circle of friends!

My son was diagnosed with enlarged/ dilated ventricles at the 20 weeks scan (it was actually 23 weeks). At the time they were just under 11mm. They did get bigger and of course we were very worried about it and in the end the baby was brought out early. As soon as the baby was born they took him off and scanned him and then came back to tell me that there was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with him and the ventricles were within normal range. They did keep an eye on him for a few months and then told me to go away and not come back. My 2.5 year old son is PERFECT.

It is quite possible that the next time you go they may have shrunk. They may stay the same or they may get a bit bigger. What you need to know is that I know of a few people who this has happened to. Up until recently, they didn't even scan babies brains and now they have a benchmark (under 12) and even this has been debated as being too low. It is a poorly researched area. You are border line. I was told that if you opened up 10 babies heads, 2 will have larger ventricles and you would never know it.

Keep us informed and please do not surf the net about this. I can tell you now that the info on the internet about this subject is completely misinformed.

I am holding your hand very tightly as I know what you are going through. It's crap, but it will be OK. Keep us informed and post if you need more info or want to let off a bit of steam. We are here for you.

Love and light X

We went through this very recently - it was 11mm on a 22 week scan on the right side only, but I just had a 28 week scan which showed it had gone completely (now 6mm). I was told that boys often have larger ones, which turns out not to mean anything. I made a point of not telling family - couldn't face them all googling and trying to be supportive when poorly informed of the worst possible circumstances from the internet, just wanted to wait and see if there really was a problem before sharing news with more than a few close friends. I also worried (probably stupidly) about them judging my son's development and behaviour in the future on the basis of this, even if it did all go away! Waiting for the next scan is horrible - I hope you are ok and get good news soon

Lambeth thats exactly what I was told at 40 weeks after all the worry, which is why I asked the OP if she knows what she is having.

I was told that research had shown that boys often have measurements within the higher range that are then considered 'normal' for them.

Good advice from above re not googling just take it one step at a time x

Thanks everyone - will try not to google! Hand holding much appreciated.

Seeing consultant tomorrow for more detailed chat about it all. Will report back after that.

It's a girl by the way!

Hi Bushy

How did you get on today? I am sure you have had a lot of information thrown your way, just to let you know we are here when you need to chat x

Well I saw the consultant today, who explained it all much more clearly to me. She said there is between 1-4% chance that dd2 will either have a chromosomal condition such as Downs or just have low intellect and delayed neuro-development due to increased water on the brain. But of course that means there is at least 96% chance she won't have any problems.

But everything depends on how things develop. I being referred doran MRI scan to get a closer look at DD2's brain. I will also have lots of ultrasounds to check the ventricle measurements.

She also scanned me again today and the measurement is closer to 12.5mm apparently, so that wasn't great. I really hope that hasn't actually worsened since yesterday.

Hopefully they won't get worse, as the prognosis is worse if it does.

DH and I had a long chat though, and both agree whole heartedly that even if she does have low intellect, or worse, we will love her just the same. He sounded really positive about it actually, which was a big relief for me because he was a bit wobbly yesterday. We're both feeling 'come what may' about it all. So no regrets about not having the amnio.

Sorry for the long post.

Sounds like you are in good hands.

My scans were every four weeks, I never had an MRI and I think from memory those measurements were about the same as DS.

Perhaps the difference between yesterdays and todays were more to do with the accuracy of the consultant rather than any increase?

Continue to enjoy your pregnancy, take each step as it comes, the odds are favourable and tbh with the support that you and your DH are giving each other you will both be able to focus on the positives,your little girl has got two very strong and brave parents.

Big hug to you both x

If your child has Down or a similar chromosomal condition, then there will be other things that are more prominent on a scan. When I had my scan they looked for dilated kidneys, irregular finger shapes, nose bone and other things. An enlarged or dilated ventricle on it's own is not a major marker for downs, it is secondary to more visible things. If your consultant did not see any of these things, she probably doesn't have it. However only an amnio would confirm that.

I was originally told by my scanner that my son had necessary structures of his brain missing! A second opinion told me that he didn't and then I had an MRI to confirm and see what was really going on. An MRI will give you a very clear picture of what is happening in your child's brain and they will be looking to see if she has all the right bits and pieces. From the MRI it was found that my son's structures were all there and that the enlarged ventricles were isolated.

The ventricles went a lot higher and at birth they came right down. My son is perfectly OK and I've never had any reason to doubt otherwise. If anything, my child is advanced for his age. My excellent pediatrician who has been with me from the birth tells me "he's perfectly normal" every time I go there. God, I love that guy!!!

When I was experiencing this, a midwife counsellor who I called told me that a mothers instincts are much more accurate than a doctors diagnosis. I was a bit taken aback and thought this was mumbo jumbo. But you know what, she was right. All through the process I was calm and collected because deep down I KNEW that there was nothing wrong with my baby.

Hi everyone

I just wanted to add to this thread even though it is quite old. We were told baby's brain ventricles were on the large side (9.6mm - considered 'borderline), and were very very worried.

Just be aware that these measurements can fluctuate all the time, as when we went back a week later they were measuring 8.3mm - definitely going in the downwards direction we were looking for.

I'm now 24 weeks and thinking about booking another scan, just to make sure the measurements are staying low. We had a really tough week and I feel for anyone who has this diagnosis. I was really encouraged and felt much better after reading all your previous posts - I'm so happy to hear that even at 12mm things turned out well.

Thanks for your posts and support, and also bushymcbush - if you see this message I'd love to hear how things turned out for you after your daughter was born.

Hi all, i know this thread was from 2011 however i have found it so comforting after having our 20 week scan and being told our baby boy has a ventricle measurement of 10.1mm, i just got back having been referred to fetal medicine with a consultant and thankfully the measurement came back at under 9mm which is so so reassuring, they have booked me in for another specialist scan when i am 24+4 and i am praying the mm has stayed the same, if not decreased.

I was just wondering how all your babies turned out? Are they all healthy and normal?

Thank you so much ❤️