can anyone shed any light?

hi all.

i went for a detailed scan on monday and sonographer checked all of baby to make sure everything 100% ok. the only thing she couldnt see was the babys spine which hasnt been viewed at any of our scans yet. i have are-scan in 2 weeks but am a little concerned as my first pregnancy was an anencephaly, it has been ruled out this time but i know spina bifida and anencephaly are closely linked, just wondered if i am right to be concerned or not? btw i have had bllod done for downs and all the usual tests and they are all fine and low risk.

thanks in advance

claire

[tmv]

It could just be the position that the baby is in. They like to get a good visual to before assuming that it is ok.

[amberd5191]

How far along are you? The sonographer told me that the spine is the hardest part to detect on some babies especially prior to 21 weeks.

[snagglepuss1]

i forgot to mention that, i am not quite 21 weeks.

claire

[Jay_Leron]

thats a tuff one, i saw my baby's spine at 10 weeks...i do know that as your baby gets bigger its harder to see the entire body by US. Whens your next scan?

[Jay_Leron]

oh sorry your next scan is in two weeks.. so are you saying that she searched for other body parts but could only find the baby's spine? was there any movements?

[snagglepuss1]

yes baby was moving furiously, hb was fine, 4 chambers of heart were also seen, and she was happy see everything else but the babys spine, i did get up and go for a walk to try and move baby but it was having none of it. i am just a little concerned now as it was only fairly recently a midwife told me anencephaly and spina bifida were closely linked and once you have had a baby with either condition the chances of having another is quite high... hope i make sense!

[Jay_Leron]

Yes you make sense. I wonder why the didnt search longer and why they would want to wait 2 weeks! maybe it was how your baby was positioned. oh my 2 weeks must seem like 20 years for you. Did ur doctor seemed worried? did u carry to full term with your last pregnancy that was anencephaly? Keeping ur baby's health in my prayers.

[peekawho]

Anencephaly and spina bifida are both neural tube defects.  Its good that your bloodwork was normal, as that can show a problem if you did have it.

She had to have seen some part of the spine.  Are you saying she couldn't visualize the entire spine?  

If its really bothering you, (which is 100% understandable) call and see if you can talk to your doctor about rescanning earlier.  If you could be reassured by someone else seeing the part of the spine in question, you'd feel much better.