abnormal ultrasound... HELP

[lilcountriegal]

Please help... I am 34 years old and pregnant with my third child (1 daughter 6 yo, 1 daughter 7 mo old).  I will be turning 35 approximately one month prior to the baby being born.  I had a quad screen blood test done in which everything came back normal.  However, during my normally scheduled ultrasound, they found some abnormalities consistent with Down's.  

First of all, the baby is a boy (I heard Downs is more prevalent in males).  The abnormalities were found in the gap between the big toe and the second toe, but the most concerning was they found abnormal thickening of the neck (nuchal thickening... something like that).  they did an amnio in the office, however, results will take 10 days.

In the meantime, I am going out of my mind.  Please, please, please... can someone give me an honest opinion?  How "bad" is the finding of the neck thickening?  I understand no one really wants to guess, but do the odds lean more towards Downs or against it?

[lilcountriegal]

I just wanted to update you all and let you know the doctor called and said the test came back normal.  All the chromosomes tested okay.  Now I can finally rest easy about having my first son!

Thanks for all the prayers... !!!

[krickett]

Just to give you a little hope while you are waiting for your test results...when I was pregnant with my daughter the Dr. was concerned about a thickening of her neck and a few other factors and told me there was a higher possibility she might have downs. As it turned out she did not. Hang in there and I will be praying for you.

[lilcountriegal]

thanks sailor, but the doc did read it.  the ultrasound tech was teh normal "professional"  awww, look how cute he's being type.  she told me the dr. would be coming into the room to see me (I assumed it was normal since I am considered a high risk pregnancy anyway)... he came in and also checked around with the ultrasound machine and confirmed the findings by doing his own measurements (the ultrasound tech didnt even mention what she found, she must have just informed the dr).  he confirmed it which prompted him to do the amnio right there in the office.  

I've been getting alot of "hopeful" stories... im afraid to get my hopes up.  i dont know the measurements, but i do know my odds started at 1 in 2500 or so and have dropped down to 1 in 150, so there is still hope.  I'll definitely post the results.  In the meantime, just please say an added prayer for my baby.  Thanks.

[glad2bamom]

I know you're not a doc, silly cable gal, I just thought you might have some advice for this poster.

Original poster--our thoughts and prayers are with you until you get the info you seek.  Please let us know.

[siren of the sea]

im sorry i dont have an answer , however, my ex sil had ultrasounds over and over due to some complications. they said the baby may have downs. then they said she may have swelling on the brain. yes they said she was a she. well we stood in the hallway during her birth and wow it was a HE and a very healthy one! im not sure the ultrasound tech should have reported any of that kind of news, mine have always giving the dr the job for that. so untill your dr reads what they see,,,,try to relax and know maybe its just a misreading!

[lilcountriegal]

Thank you.  I'll definitely keep you posted.  In the meantime, the more prayers, the better.  

If anyone stumbles across this thread who knows the answer, please do post it.  If not, just please pray.

thanks again.

[glad2bamom]

I can't help you at all, but in my header I put the name of someone who can probably help you.  She is extremely smart and works in the health care industry.
Maybe we can draw her attention and she'll read this one.

I can't imagine what you must be going through, and I won't try to offer advice.  Just know that we're thinking of you.  Keep posting, and let us know.

[lilcountriegal]

Thanks for the prayers.  I sure need them.

I did google nuchal thickening and read a lot of material.  Unfortunately, I do not know the exact measurements of the thickness that was found, all they said was "abnormally thick".  I'm finding alot of other defects that nuchal thickening can be a detector of, other than Downs.  The most prevalent is Jacobsen Syndrome (does anyone know if they will test for that as well with the amnio fluid they took?)

I guess I'm looking for someone with a better medical background than I to tell me either a) that this finding is a significnat one and I should prepare for the worst or b) that this finding can and usually does result in a normal child.

[AnnieBrooke]

Google "nuchal fold," and you should get some useful information.