Category: Fetal Hydrops

Cystic Hygroma

The Birds Are Still Singing

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Grief and beauty after termination for hydrops and cystic hygroma

“I asked for those flowers because I wanted a reminder of your life, and your birth that was also your death but yet, it was a birth.” By Sabrina Fletcher This week I should have been entering the third trimester of my second pregnancy. The trimester of “Oh, when are you due?” and of “Oh wow, you’re having a baby!”… and the trimester of maternity tops and stretchy elastic band pants and round round bellies (and other parts). But you, my baby, are not here with me. The air is chilly and wet as I step outside to throw the compost onto the pile in our […]

Fetal Hydrops

Mariana

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Mariana - Terminating after hydrops, cystic hygroma, and T21 diagnosis (Down Syndrome)

It was almost like she came out in her bubble, protected from the outside world. By Andrea My husband and I were excited when we found out that I was pregnant. We have a three-year-old daughter and this baby would have been born around the same time our daughter started kindergarten. Everything happened as planned; it was a very expected pregnancy. The first ultrasound was at 12 weeks. I wasn’t very concerned. It was probably because we didn’t have any problems during our first pregnancy and our daughter was born healthy. Even though my husband really wanted to be there, he couldn’t make it for […]

Diagnoses

What is Hydrops Fetalis (Fetal Hydrops)?

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Hydrops fetalis (fetal hydrops) is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in two or more places and is a symptom of an underlying problem with the fetus. Hydrops is typically discovered during an ultrasound in the first or second trimester, and the earlier it is found the worse the prognosis. Non-immune hydrops may indicate congenital heart defects, structural abnormalities, infection, or genetic disorders.It is sometimes associated with too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios) and placental edema.   For more information, visit: Medscape—Pediatric Hydrops Fetalis Perinatology—Hydrops Fetalis Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin—Hydrops fetalis/erythroblastosis fetalis   Ending a Wanted Pregnancy stories tagged Fetal Hydrops

Cystic Hygroma

A Glimpse of Eternity

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By V.E. I had begun to feel queasy and tired, and I knew these were the symptoms of early pregnancy.  I had a 19-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, and wanted so much for him to have a sibling close to his age. The anticipation of having another precious child in our lives made me not mind the downsides of pregnancy. Because I was 38 at the time, my GP recommending a dating ultrasound to when I was around nine weeks gestation. That is a sad day I will remember for the rest of my life. The specialist performing the ultrasound looked at the screen for a […]

Fetal Hydrops

Jamie, at 32 Weeks

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My husband and I weren’t yet trying for number three, but we always felt there would be one more baby for us. God had just decided it would be sooner than we’d thought. Little did we know where this was going to lead. My first trimester was met with extreme nausea and bleeding. Every time I had a heavy bleeding episode, I would think, This is it, this baby isn’t going to make it. My kind and understanding OB brought me in twice a week to see my baby, to let me know she was alive and kicking. Each time I saw her, I stared in […]

arthrogryposis

We Did Right by Her

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by Breann At our first-trimester ultrasound we were told our daughter would likely miscarry within a month. She had hydrops, open bowels, and heart abnormalities.  We were shocked and wanted answers, although none ever really came. After tests came back all negative for common genetic disorders and infections, our providers recommended a pediatric heart surgeon for surgery immediately following her birth. I came in for an amniocentesis the first day that I could, at 16 weeks. They said the ultrasound no longer looked abnormal and this testing was unnecessary.  We were again shocked, but ecstatic–feeling as though our prayers had truly been answered. We were […]