Hyperechogenic bowel at 20 week scan?

[haggis81]

Hi, just had our 20 week scan where the sonographer thought that the bowel was hyperechogenic. We've been told that this could be nothing, but it could mean increased risk of conditions including Down's (although our NT scan came back as 1 in 12,000) and Cystic Fibrosis (no family history). We're being referred to a consultant for another scan to check it out. Has anyone else had a similar experience recently? Trying not to worry too much!

Not me but a friend had this and it was absolutely fine - no problems at all with the baby - though incredibly stressful for her during her pregnancy wondering and worrying and undergoing extra tests etc. the medical professionals all seemed convinced there was going to be some underlying disability but they were wrong.

Apparently small amounts of blood in the baby's intestine can show up a white spots on the scan. They now think that as she had had some bleeding in the first trimester (possible vanishing twin, but unconfirmed), the baby may have ingested a bit of blood as that is what showed up.

Thanks TakesTwo, that's very reassuring. I didn't have any bleeding during the first trimester but some googling suggests that the baby could still have ingested blood. As everything else seems fine I'm just hoping that she was being cautious.

It could be, it's a soft marker, but it could be harmless too.

A friend has just had a similar thing (big calcium spot or something in the kidney.) they had all sorts of tests, even an MRI scan as part of a research study, but in the end the consultant told them that they couldn't find anything wrong, and reminded them that even a few years ago the scans weren't good enough to see such things and she's have had a normal baby and never even known.

quivk google suggests 70% of echogenic bowels seen on a scan are normal/an isolated finding. Good luck with the scan.

Yes. I had this as well as a few other soft markers. Myself and his father were tested to see if we were carriers of CF as well as if I'd had toxoplasmosis and we were offered an amino but declined. It was still visible on a scan right up to when he was born, a few weeks prem. He is fine and we never found out what it was all about. Easy for me to say now but try not to worry too much.

Thought I would post back here in case anyone with a similar finding at 20 weeks finds this thread in future. We had blood tests for CMV and toxoplasmosis which both came back negative, and then today we saw a consultant who scanned a second time and said that there was nothing to worry about - baby looks perfectly healthy. Very relieved! Thanks for the comments and reassurance above.

Glad to hear it op

Hi I had my 20 week scan yesterday and they referred me for another scan in 6 weeks after they noted hyperechogenic bowel, I've have been in bits and extremely worried I'm 33 years old this is my first pregnancy, i tested low risk for Downs and not a carrier of C.F, 6 weeks seems a really long time to wait filled with worry, but reading all your posts has given me some reassurance and relief thank you ! X