I have a daughter, she is 8months old, she is smart and beautiful, she is our own miracle.
We found out we were expecting another child the day after my husband and I married. Between dealing with the wedding arrangements and our 1st child, an amazing 14 month old boy (at the time), we really had no idea of dates and how far along we were. So we went to our GP for a confirmation, they checked HCG levels and sent us for a dating scan. Everything was looking great our beautiful child had a strong heartbeat and the ultrasound estimated we were about 6 weeks along with an EDD of Early September.
Our GP called and asked to see us again, my HCG levels were not consistent with the dating scan, they were more than tripled the expected level for only 6 weeks gestation. (1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml is the average normal HCG level, mine were 0ver 200,000) We were told numerous reasons, the baby could of stopped growing (and I was actually much further along) or I was in fact carrying multiples that the original scan somehow missed. We were sent for another scan, by this time we were around 7 weeks. The ultrasound went great, our childs heartbeat was still strong, growth was considered normal for the estimated gestation of 7 weeks and there was definitely only one inhabitant in there. We, to this day, do not have a confirmed reason as to why my HCG levels were not consistent our GP had skimmed over the fact that the pregnancy may have started as a multiple gestation but one (or more) may not have 'progressed'. While the high HCG levels were not a cause for concern, they were the beginning of our long journey.
Our GP called and asked to see us again, my HCG levels were not consistent with the dating scan, they were more than tripled the expected level for only 6 weeks gestation. (1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml is the average normal HCG level, mine were 0ver 200,000) We were told numerous reasons, the baby could of stopped growing (and I was actually much further along) or I was in fact carrying multiples that the original scan somehow missed. We were sent for another scan, by this time we were around 7 weeks. The ultrasound went great, our childs heartbeat was still strong, growth was considered normal for the estimated gestation of 7 weeks and there was definitely only one inhabitant in there. We, to this day, do not have a confirmed reason as to why my HCG levels were not consistent our GP had skimmed over the fact that the pregnancy may have started as a multiple gestation but one (or more) may not have 'progressed'. While the high HCG levels were not a cause for concern, they were the beginning of our long journey.
After the 2nd ultrasound we had two weeks of pregnancy bliss, before our world came crashing down following a phone call from our doctor asking us to immediately come back in re: our latest ultrasound. My husband left work to come to the appointment, after all who gets a call back from their doctor if it isn't horrible news. With our son on my lap and my husband standing beside me we got told our child has a cystic hygroma. Which is basically a lymphatic malformation, our child had a sack of fluid running from the top of her head to the base of her spine. Our GP went on to to spout all the facts and figures.
- It can occur in as much as 1% of foetuses between 9 and 16 weeks of pregnancy. (Our daughters was found at 7 weeks)
- If a cystic Hyrgoma resolves itself by week 20, the outcome for good is around 54-80%.
- If not resolved the potential of a good outcome is dropped to 2-9% (our daughters did not resolve until somewhere between 29-32 weeks gestation)
- It is associated with Turners Syndrome, chromosomal abnormalities such as Trisomy 13, 18 and 21 (Patau, Edward and Down Syndrome) and Noonan Syndrome.
- Fetal Hydrops occurs 22-76% with all cystic Hygroma's and is almost always associated with miscarriage or fetal death.
Our Doctor looked us in the eye and told us "We highly recommend you terminate this pregnancy"
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