Anyone had Fetal MRI at Kings--help me prepare...

[Arabica]

Had a scan today (am 27 wks). Baby has severe ventriculomegaly, excess fluid on both sides of the brain. I've been told this could mean anything from absolutely nothing, to potentially severe brain problem or tumour. So am having MRI so they can get a good look inside the brain and see that everything is OK. At least I know it's not chromosone related, as I had clear amnio already.
I'm going to get a call in next 2 days or so to go to Kings for scanhas anyone been and what is it like? Is it as noisy as a normal MRI? I'll be going by myself as DH can't get time off and I won't be getting any results that daywill be going back to my own consultant for them.

Havent posted but have been watching , Im so pleased for you and your baby , Goood Luck x x x

Oh, wow, Arabica - I went away for a week, never imagining you would be left hanging so long. But so relieved to hear that the results are re-assuring. Hope the good news just gets better and better at the appointment with The Man On High!

Hi, I had another appt today--after spending at least 10 years waiting, discovered that the fluid is still increasing. Consultant warned me that in cases where there is this much fluid there is a v real chance of developmental delay. I knew that already, of course, but it means there is now a higher chance of the baby having to have a shunt operation soon after birth. He mentioned termination again, I find it really hard to believe that someone would terminate at nearly 32 weeks on the basis that the baby MIGHT have an unspecified kind of developmental delay. Anyway no more scans for 4 weeks, because they wouldn't deliver the baby at any time before that as being premature would just add to the baby's potential difficulties.
Feel tired, fed up with being pregnant, hoping the next few weeks go quickly. Have horrid swollen feet too.

Arabica, sorry to hear that.
How big are the ventricles now?
Since all my problems started with the ventricles of my baby being too big I've heard sooooooo many stories of people with shunts who are living a perfectly normal life.

I found it bliss when I had a break from scanning for four weeks, time to try and just enjoy being pregnant - I thought about the problems as little as possible then and really enjoyed the time with my dd's.

I hope the next four weeks will be okay for you.
Thinking of you. XXX

Oh Arabica......
Put your feet in a bath of cold water.
Your feet will ease, and day by day, your pg will pass and you will meet your darling baby and the babiness will be what counts.
What a long hot frustraing week you have had.
I feel so weary on your behalf.

Hold tight to your little one - remember Hester on this site was offered a termination at 30 weeks plus for TALIPES! Which turned out to be positional, anyway. Madness.

Thanks Blu and Emkana. I didn't know that about Hester. How awful, but then again, according to the fetal medicine midwife at my usual hopspital, there are the odd few cases when terminations have been offered for missing fingers!
I am going to do my best to enjoy the next few weeks, I am going to go swimming tomorrow as that's said to be good for water retention.
Emkana, how are you feeling?

Sorry to hear your baby's ventricle measurements had increased. Someone I know had a shunt for her daughter after she was born, at about 8 weeks (they didn't know beforehand, found out a week or so before the op). She's 1 now and doing beautifully. The shunt is not noticeable unless you know. Best wishes for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Arabica, I'm really sorry to hear this.
Sending you lots of love x

how stressful .. also try putting feet up on cushions .. and sleeping with them slightly raised

enjoy your swimming

Thanks for asking Arabica - I'm okay, still here,
apprehensive and a bit scared about what lies ahead...

Thinking of you too emkana xxx

Arabica - just catching up again with this. Glad the scan showed nothing untoward but sorry that the fluid still seems to be on the increase.

Hope you can enjoy the next few scan-free weeks.

Thinking of you.

Hi Saggars. Feeling very relieved there are no scans or hospital appts for four weeks. Well, I am going to hospital on Friday but just to the asthma dept for a routine check-up.
How are you?