20 w scan - fluid around baby's heart

[lavenderlilaclily]

I posted this in the antenatal tests section but thought I'd post here too as am feeling a bit desperate and am wondering if anyone has had any experience with this.

I'm currently 20 weeks, my first baby. I had my anomaly scan earlier this week and was told there was a moderate to large amount of fluid (pericardial effusion) around the baby's heart...saw a fetal medicine consultant same day, who confirmed there was pericardial effusion but couldn't work out the cause as everything else looks fairly normal. Was referred to a fetal cardiologist, who I saw Wednesday, who also confirmed there's a lot of fluid and the heart is slightly enlarged, but otherwise there's no obvious issues causing it. Am waiting for results of blood tests, etc, and am going to be monitored with regular ultrasounds. Next ultrasound is on Wednesday.

I've been on an emotional rollercoaster this whole time, feeling hopeless, then hopeful, anxious, confused. Mostly I'm absolutely terrified.

I just wanted to know if anyone has any experience with this?? Any hopeful stories maybe? x

I just wanted to say that I am sorry you are going through this. Sending you lots of positive thoughts and wishes.

Sorry I don't have experience but just wanted to say how stressful this sounds and I'm sending lots of love and good wishes to you xx

Hi @lavenderlilaclily, I'm really sorry you're going through this.

I have no experience in fetal medicine however I am a medic and have had a quick look at the literature - one paper in particular quotes that a pericardial effusion measuring up to 7 mm, without other abnormalities on ultrasound, can be seen without any long term health implications.

I think for the time being you have to try to take the fact that a sonographer and 2 fetal medicine consultants have not seen an underlying cause, as being positive.

Sending you a handhold x

thank you all for your kind messages and wishes xx

@Birchtree4 - thank you for having a look, that's reassuring. Will keep fingers crossed that this is the case... I don't know measurement wise how big it is, I asked how many mm the effusion was at my last appointment but the consultant said it was really hard to measure properly and that it was better to give qualitative assessments rather than quantitative. So will just have to hope it's less than 7..