scared and need help

[Bre]

Well today I went for another ultrasound I am 31 weeks and four days pregnant. When the lady started to do the scan everything was going good then she gets to the head and I asked right away how much the hydro went up she made a crazy face and said it didn't look very good. Last time I had an ultrasound the hydro was 1.8 mm that was four weeks ago and today her head size is at 36 weeks when she is only 31 weeks and a couple of days, and her hydro is measureing 3. mm she made it seem like her head was huge and she even started to tell me about her friends son who has the same thing and when I asked how he was all she said was well he has the prettiest brown eyes. Uuuugggg. I could of killed her. She keep on saying how she didn't like the size. But when the main doc came in she was like your good and that it was expected and it is nothing to worry about yet and to come back in another four weeks. So I left the hospital scared and angrey shouldn't I be having more scans now that it is closer to the end and is she going to be ok after all her head is measureing 4 weeks and a couple of days ahead. Has anyones baby been born with something like that and that much hydro? Oh and she is also a bigger baby but only by a pound or a little over a pound. If anyone can share any info or have a similar story please tell. Thanks .

[Ziggy]

Ugh. I hate the uncalledfor commentary from techs! Hydro usually isn't a concern until after the spinal closure. Sweet pea's hydro was very noticeable on ultrasound but it was within normal limits at birth and didn't show signs of increasing until he was 11 days old. They put in a shunt at 12 days old, and he came home at 15 days old. He's actually advanced for his age, socially... and he's on track for everything but gross motor, where he's only slightly delayed.

[dkagami]

Hello,

My name is Danielle and my daughter, Kaiya, was born with SB L2-L3, hydro, bilat. club feet and ACII. We had the exact opposite problem when I was pregnant. One of her vent. was larger than the other and pretty high but when she came out they waited a week after her myelo repair to place the shunt. But on the ultrasound she was measure behind in her head growth by a month or two. They were baffled at this. They really couldn't tell us what that meant..but she was just a small baby (6lbs 9oz). She is very smart for her age and a great problem solver. Even though she hasn't picked up crawling yet (she is almost 10 months now) she can get to where she needs to be somehow, rolling and pushing herself with her hands :)

Are you delivering soon? I wish you the best of luck!

Danielle

[leigh828]

So sorry you had such a rough appointment with an ultrasound tech who thought she knew all there is to know about hydro!! UGH is all I can say about that! It is SO totally normal for hydro to increase towards the end (not what us moms want to hear, but normal) Someone has already said, but they really aren't concerned about hydro until after the closure surgery. I asked my doctor a zillion times if they would deliever early if the hydro kept increasing and everytime he said no. Their reasoning is that they KNOW that the baby is going to have a pretty big surgery right away and it is so important that the baby is as big and healthy and as ready to come out as possible. Your baby will not have a big head!! I was so worried that my son's head was going to be huge! It's not. He had a shunt placed at 3 weeks and his head is in the 40th% for his age. Just right. :) I would say that you don't need more ultrasounds as the delivery date appproaches...if you are anything like me, all that will cause is more worry. If they aren't going to deliver early, there is no reason to make you go through ultrasound after ultrasound. Hang in there mama!!

[Kari]

Zach's hydro was in the severe range throughout my pregnancy, and as he grew, so did his vents. His shunt was placed at 10 days old, and he's just fine!

[jellolegs23]

I am sorry you had a scare with the tech. Unfortunately, techs speak out on things they are not educated about. The only thing techs are educated enough to do are to locate the area in which the doctor wants to look at and that is it. They have no other knowledge than to take a picture of what they are supposed to.

The tech was way out of line to speak on something she had no right to really even be talking about. By the way, this tech was INCORRECT about the information she gave you! The only person you really need to pay attention to is the doctor and what he says.

[bcain]

I have to say, I have never had a tech say a single word about an abnormality.

I've had 6 pregnancies, 3 with troubles or something not normal, and every time I never knew it until the doctor came in to talk with me. After the fact, and at a follow up the tech may give info regarding increase or decrease, but only if I ask. They'll say if you want to know the sex. Other than that I've never had info relayed to me during the sono.

Another note, my neonatologist said not to worry about the hydro. Babies skulls are very soft and malleable. So the brain will accomodate the extra fluid usually without any damage. Even some severe hydro cases, the brain is fine. They'll shunt it after the baby is born.