Small head and front of brain not developing as normal

[Louisajane27]

Hi everyone I'm new to mumsnet and wondered if anyone can help? I'm 31 weeks pregnant with my second and during a routine growth scan for gestational diabetes they noticed my baby's head was very small. I have since had scans with the consultants at the fetal medical unit where they discovered his head is on the 3rd centile with reduced growth and the cavum (front part of the brain) is not normal. I now have a MRI scan next week to give a better diagnosis. All I've been told is it will be hard to tell the full extent of things until he is born! Can anyone help or give any advice? Please

good luck on thursday.forgot to say last post my dd was treated at soton they are really lovely there.will be thinking of you on Thursday.

Sorry to hear this. I hope you get some answers very soon, the wait must be awful.

I hope they have some good news for you on Thursday. Praying that all will turn out well in the end. Xx

Hi ladies, thank you so much for all your messages. It's so nice to have the support of so many lovely mums I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything tomorrow. Keeping myself busy today running around cleaning and trying not to think to much about tomorrow. X

Hi everyone, I've just got back from the hospital and have spoken to the neurologists. They think that baby has had a stroke a few weeks ago and this had caused permanent brain damage in particular his cortex. We have been told that he will have moderate to severe learning difficulties and problems with his movements, for example there not sure if he will walk. We have also been told that he is likely to develop epilepsy and cerebral palsy. He should be able to breath and feed normally and will probably have to spend some time in the neonatal unit before he can come home. X

Oh so sorry to hear that xx hoping for the best possible outcome for baby.Sending a hug.

Hi Louisajane

I am sorry you have had this news & everything isn't as you planned.
In some ways it is a good thing that you are aware now, that way your baby can have the full range or support and monitoring from birth & early intervention really can make a huge difference.
The other thing to remember is that MRI scans whilst very good at showing what has happened and identifying possible outcomes they really cannot predict the future.
People can have a very poor prognosis from an MRI outcome with little or no effects and visa versa.
My son suffered brain damage as a result of his premature birth, he has cerebral palsy, autism and learning difficulties BUT he also is a very bright, independent funny 11 yr old who can walk & talk & run (very wobbly) & is just as an important part of our family as his brother & who we have the same hopes, dreams & expectations for.
You will feel a huge mix of emotions, be kind to yourself, take care of yourself and each other.
Remember no matter how many doctors appnts & worrying times ahead he will still be your gorgeous beautiful baby first & foremost.
Sorry for waffleing, take care

Hi mymatemax, thank you so much for your message. It has reminded me to not be overwhelmed by the facts and stay positive. I think its easy to get lost among the statistics and forget about the beautiful child in the middle. I already see him as my little fighter and will do everything I can to support him. Do you know of any support groups that could help? Thank you so much again for your message. X

:) any diagnosis or condition will just be part of him, not the sum of him. I remember talking to ds2's physio & her telling me the best physio was just the usual rough & tumble & play with his big brother who at 3 was completely unaware of his baby brothers diagnosis.
The normal cuddles & tiggles are the most important thing.
Enjoy the early baby days with your little fighter. x

As for support groups:
At first I just went to the usual mother & baby groups but for us there was an obvious difference in development so I went to a local special needs mother & baby/toddler group & it was great, such a wealth of knowledge from local parents whose children where a little bit older, with a huge variety of difficulties but all who knew how it felt to have a few extra worries.

Cerebra are a fantastic charity who can offer all sorts of info and advice.

Our hospital Child development centre is fantastic as was the mother & baby hydrotherapy group that the physio put me in touch with.
Support of family and friends has been the most important to us.
The NHS has given us 11 years of the most amazing support and we have met some of the most amazing people because of ds2.
Sometimes I would love to make things a little easier for him, but I really wouldn't change him for the world.
Feel free to PM.

Please stay positive. You will soon have another baby to fall in love with.
My DS's MRI scans post-birth show a damaged cortex and enlarged ventricles. By 11 months all the professionals were lining up to tell me what he wouldn't achieve. He wouldn’t walk, he wouldn't write, he wouldn't drive, I remember one eminent professor telling me that on a scale of 1 to 10 for brain damage D's was a 7.
He's done all of the above, has good GCSEs and is about to embark on a veterinary course. Also off to the Paralympics next month.
The brain is a funny thing and life is full of stories of people who shouldn't be able to do stuff but somehow manage to.

Hi, thank you so much for all the help and advice. I wasn't sure where to start or look but I have lots of great ideas now. As much as I want to be prepared I think it's also important to take each day as it comes and enjoy all the lovely new cuddles. Thank you so much again. X

Hi springlamb, thank you for your message and sharing your story. Your right the brain is a funny thing and life is full of amazing stories. You must be really proud of your son :) we are staying as positive as we can and just taking each day/week as it comes. Thanks again x

Sorry to hear of your little boy's challenges, but as has been said by other posters, so very glad he has a mum like you to support him as he meets them.

Have you posted yet on the Special Needs section here on Mumsnet? Lots of very knowledgeable and kind women there, who will be able to hold your hand and guide you through these next stages, and help you prepare for what is ahead. They should also be good at signposting you to relevant support groups, too. Obviously we'll also want to know how things are going, but I think the expertise and experience they can offer you might be so valuable.

Will hope the outcome for him is at the best end of the spectrum you've been given; as you say, he sounds a little fighter. x

Hi, thank you very much. Yes I have posted on the special needs chat and have already had lots of help and advice I will keep posting here to with any news and stuff. Thank you so much again. X

im so sorry that the prognosis you have been given is so poor. whilst things could all be as predicted, as others have said, this isnt always the case, and the brain has a remarkable "plasticity" meaning that in the event of injury new pathways can be invoked/learnt and you never quite know whats in store even with the bleakest prognosis.

as you said yourself you are nurturing a beautiful little life, and whatever difficulties he or she has they wil be ashining beacon of love in your family and every day you will do your best to give them the best quality of life possible.

I am thinking of you OP

Just to add my tuppence worth - I am very close to a little boy with CP who was very early and who's scans were very damning.

He's not walking (yet) but he's the brightest, funniest and lovely wee man you could ever meet. He's at mainstream school too.

None of which you'd have believed in the early days based on the scan.

You sound very calm and strong.

So sorry to hear about the diagnosis your little one has been given, but don't give up hope, babies have such an amazing ability to heal and overcome problems that would be devastating for adults.

I went to school with a girl who was born 'dead' and her parents were told to expect her to never walk, talk or do anything at all. Fortunately they were sensible country souls who ignored most of the scare-mongering and she ended up the brightest in the family and the first with a university degree. She does have a mild physical disability which is undetectable as an adult, and she now works as a therapist for special needs children.

You can do so much for your little one from birth onwards with skin-to-skin and delayed cord clamping, kangaroo care if special care unit is needed, breastmilk because it contains growth factors that help brain tissue grow, baby massage, carrying in a sling for stimulation, talking, singing and music.

Hi ladies, thank you so much for all your support and sharing your stories/experiences. Also thank you again for all your information and advice. I'm feeling more positive today and trying my best to enjoy the last few weeks of pregnancy as I know the time will go so quick. Thanks again x

@Louisajane27 I know this is an old thread but how is your son doing now?