Cystic hygroma and NT Level

[Zanina]

I had my 12 week scan on Friday. I was measured at being 13+1, with an NT Level of 3.7 and cystic hygroma. And thin membrane on the chest and abdomen. The sonographer was not hopeful and expected something to show up in my blood test.

I wanted to know if anyone has any experience of something similar and were you allowed to skip the NIPT and go straight for the cvs.

Thank you for reading

Hi I know I’m a little late to this thread but I’m desperately searching for some sort of clarity to my situation! At my 12 week scan we were told baby has a increased NT of 6mm we were referred and seen by fetal medicine the following week who confirmed this as a cystic hygroma and prepared us for the worst, due to position of my placenta they were unable to do cvs so I had to wait 4 weeks for amnio which has come back clear, my next scan is my anomaly scan in 2 weeks. I feel like after all the doom and gloom news I was given at the start I feel hopeless like there is no possibility for a positive outcome, this is my 3rd baby and I’m really starting to show it’s getting harder to hide in my uniform and I still havnt told anyone I just don’t feel like I can even muster up the courage to say I’m pregnant because the outcome is still so unclear. I know there are other possibilities of abnormalities that could show at the 20 week scan but I just want to know what all your outcomes where? (Positive for all I hope) xx

I wasn’t one of the posters on this thread originally, but jumping in because my baby also had a cystic hygroma. I was convinced that something was going to show up on every test/scan we had but everything kept coming back clear, except for a still slightly raised nuchal measurement at the anomaly scan (but lower than it had been at 16 weeks and the cystic hygroma itself had gone). It was a difficult pregnancy all the way through but my little boy is 8 months old now and doing really well, with no signs of anything wrong with him.

There’s a lot of doom and gloom around cystic hygromas and it can be a bad sign but not always. I hope everything turns out well for you.

Thank you so much for your reply, it has definitely given me some hope, I feel so bad because I havnt enjoyed this pregnancy at all and I havnt even told my other children because I don’t want to upset them if anything does go wrong! I suppose I will just take it week by week and pray my outcome is as positive as yours ❤️ Also thanks for the private message I am going to go and have a look now xx

Hi @Cmac1420 hope you are well. I'm still under consultant and I ask her nearly every time why it happened. She says it can happen for no reason but after all.clear test results they just monitor for growth as it can be associated with slow baby growth. I'm about 32 weeks now, had a slight growth slow down last week but I've been reassured its because I'm small framed. I had a 6lb 4 baby last time so they think that's what I will have again because of my size. So as far as things go, all is well and I hope that is the case for you. Having a clear amnio and anomaly scan is the best outcome really so hang in there! Xx

@Zanina hey! Just dropping back in to share that after a NT of 7.0mm and being given less then 10% chance of having a healthy baby back in Jan, we did indeed have a very healthy baby girl around four weeks ago. She is wonderful, passing all checks and has stolen our hearts.

I remember one of our consultants saying the best result is it just being one of those things but the unknown will eat at you and it was very much the case. I felt incredibly anxious through my whole pregnancy but we've made it out the other side and at the moment we're looking good.

Sending hope + good thoughts to anyone else who has to face this challenge. It's incredibly difficult.

@Zanina thank you so much for your reply❤️ I hope all is well with you! I am starting to feel a bit more hopeful for a positive outcome, they had to reschedule my anomaly scan to the 20th which is disappointing as I’m already so anxious waiting I hope the next 2 weeks go quickly! @milkshakeandchips5 that is amazing I am so happy that you have gotten a positive outcome I hope you a baby girl are keeping well 💞

Well I got a phone call today from fetal medicine 16days after amniocentesis to tell me that they were not able to extract any dna from the microarray to test so they are now going to have to culture it which will take a further two weeks! I feel so upset just feel like I keep getting set backs, a further 2 weeks will make me 22 weeks pregnant ! I’m now concerned that they won’t be able to culture it and all this anxiety, stress and worry is becoming unbearable. Has this happened to anyone else?? :(

Hi guys sorry for not getting back to you both!
@milkshakeandchips5 congratulations on the birth of your little one! I'm so happy for you and still grateful for all your helpful replies!

@Cmac1420 I believe this is normal procedure. Microarray can take up to two weeks if they have to culture it so it's actually nothing unusual per say. Did you have the first set of results PCR results? And is your anamoly still booked for the 20th Aug? Sorry I know it's frustrating but more worrying because you just want an answer! You have come this far, hang in there. And what does your gut feeling say? I know it's difficult to understand but increased NT often comes down to nothing so it's worth holding on to that xxx

I went to see my consultant yesterday, baby's growth is still a bit less than they would like so they will induce me on the 26 Aug when it's 37 weeks. So nothing wrong as such but they want to get baby out to avoid the risk of something going wrong. I know many would say avoid being induced but honestly I want this baby out lol and if she isn't growing then time to make a move a think!

@Rbrjc hi! So glad that you had a good outcome as well. Thank you for adding to the thread I hope it helps anyone else looking for answers x

@Zanina Hope everything goes well for you. I was induced at 36 weeks because growth had tailed off. For us it was definitely a case of “better out than in.” He barely made it onto the weight chart when he was born but he’d caught up by his eight week jabs. Good luck!

@Rbrjc thank you! Slightly worried in case anything goes wrong but anything could go wrong at any time anyway so makes no difference. I also would prefer to give birth to a smaller baby. Last time my son was on his side so got stuck and needed forceps. He was 6lbs 4. Not big as such but I feel I could birth a smaller baby better perhaps. Just hoping I get that epidural and I'll be content!

Just a quick update. I was induced, had an epidural, lovely birth. My baby girl Weighed 5lbs and is perfectly healthy. 2 months old now and she is perfect :)

Hi, thank you so much for posting this and everyone sharing their experience! I’m currently 13 weeks pregnant and baby has been diagnosed with cystic hygroma measuring 6.9mm. I was unable to get a CVS last week due to the position of the placenta and we are going to try again next week. I am so sick with worry 24/7, I had a miscarriage in January, it gives me hope reading other people’s stories and just praying for the health of our rainbow baby!