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Well....to answer your question about picking up trisomy 18 on twins w/ blood work, yes it is much much less accurate. An ultrasound for various "markers" would be a more accurate way to go. Twins really throws off the blood chemical levels and they have no way of know which twin is producing which chemical. Most docs don't do triple/quad screen multiples. Sorry it took so long to answer.

Just wanted to let everyone here know that you can add me to the list of mom's who's CPC scare (thats putting it mildly) turned out fine. We got our amnio results back today and everything is normal! We are so relieved. I really think that in another five years Dr.s and ultrasound techs wont even mention CPCs anymore unless there are clear indications of other anomalies. It seems to me that there isnt enough information available yet to concretely link these cysts to anything. They will probably decide that when the cyst or cysts (in my caase) are seen on their own with out any other proven markers for a problem that they are just a variation of normal and not worry about them. My thoughts are with you all.

I totally understand how you feel. After my AFP results came back 1 in 10 for trisomy 18, I thought how can god do this to me? My baby will die :( and their is nothing I could have done or could do to make this different. My doctor then told me about the false positive risk on this test. I then went for a level II ultrasound. The ultrasound showed NO markers for trisomy 18.. but thats no guarantee that my baby does not have the disorder. I decided not to do an amnio because what would I do with this information anyways? I would rather hope and pray for the last months of this pregnancy that this baby is healthy, rather than know for the last months of my pregnancy that my baby was going to die. Another reason is that you risk a miscarriage with the amnio, just to find out, and how would that make you feel to lose a healthy baby due to miscarriage from amnio than to just be able to " know " one way or the other. most babys are healthy, im just keeping a good outlook and I hope you do the same. Don't get me wrong I think about this every minute or so during my day and I have been having terrible nightmares, and I feel that my pregnancy is ruined by worry and fear. I ask god to come into my heart, and bless my baby and my family and it makes me feel much better. I hope everything is fine and I hope you have a healthy baby.

I recently recieved my AFP results 1 in 10 for trisomy 18. I know exactly how you feel. I had a level II ultrasound which detects 80% of babys with trisomy 18. I decided not to go through with the amnio. I don't think the risk of a miscarriage is worth me knowing for sure or not. The only thing that seems to make me feel better is praying and asking god to come into my heart and bless me and my child and my family. Just ask yourself what are you going to do with this information when you get it? I would rather go through the last months of my pregnancy hoping and praying that my baby is fine, rather than going through them knowing my baby is going to die. I hope everything goes ok and just remember that most of those cysts go away before birth.

Well, Marla I am 23 and I am also having my second child. I found out today that my baby has two cysts (bilateral choroid plexus cysts) on her brain. I also have to wait 4 weeks. I am just prayerful. I went back to work so I wouldn't be on the pity wagon. I am prayerful for you too.

I'm having my first baby. I just had an ultrasound done at 22 weeks. They found that the baby has one dialated kidney. Can you tell me what affect that has on the baby, and is it something I should be worried about or will it go away. Thanks, I'm really upset getting this news. Heather

More than likley everything is fine. The majority resolve on their own.

I first wrote in at the end of April when we discovered our baby had a choroid plexus cyst, on Sept 3 our lttle girl arrived healthy!!!!! Just thought this will encourage people.

Marla, My second baby had bilateral choroid plexus cysts and I had to wait that long month for the second ultrasound also. She had no other markers for trisomy 18 and the cysts were gone by the second ultrasound. The actual "cysts" are a normal part of fetal development that disappear around the 20th week of pregnancy. If there are no other indications that something is wrong I wouldn't get an amnio. My daughter is healthy and smart! Good luck,Christine

Hi! I haven't posted in a while but wanted to let everyone know that I just had my healthy baby boy on September 23rd. He is perfect and beautiful to boot! He did come 3 weeks early which was a bit of a surprise so he's pretty tiny (6 lbs 8 ozs), but other than that he is doing great. Yeah!!!! I hope everyone else hangs in there, stays positive and enjoys their pregnancies. Soon your healthy baby will be here too!

I also haven't posted in awhile, but also wanted to report that our son, Max, was born September 27th and is a perfectly healthy little baby boy.(also HUGE 9lbs. 5Oz.) He too was diagnosed with a CPC, as well as a mm short femur! We were so scared and elected to NOT have an amnio and had to "faith it out" for the rest of the pregnancy! To all of you in the same boat, hang in there and have faith. My biggest piece of advice is to ENJOY your pregnancy and don't allow doctors and info. to make you crazy!!! It is such a precious time. Good luck and my prayers will remain with you all!

Hello, I am pg with my 7th, 33 yrs old. I had a routine u/s last wk at 24w3d...ob found a 0.9cm cpc on the left side of his brain. We were referred to a perinatologist and have a level II sono scheduled for Oct. 11th. I was and have been a complete wreck after the news. The baby looked perfect according to him other than the cpc. Then he mentioned the marker for down's and T18. My AFP test came back completely normal as well. I am praying, through reading this site and a million others, that this resolves itself as yours have. You guys have really alleviated a lot of stress. I'm really praying for the outcomes you have arrived at. I've read all of the research as well and want to believe that this, too, is an isolated cpc. I'm really upset that the Drs can't agree on whether or not these things are serious, being the only marker with otherwise normal u/s and blood work, or not. I now have the risk of a possible amnio that I'm not really sure I will do b/c of the fact that this cpc IS the only marker. How many of you had completely normal u/s (other than the cpc)and good AFP results that a Dr still recommended the amnio and if so did you do it? Thanks, Sandy

Sandy, I am 25 weeks pregnant with my first baby. At 16 week my doctor detected 2 cpc's, and scheduled me for a level II ultrasound. My triple screen test came back 1 in 121 for downs, which read as a "positive" screen. When I went for my level II ultrasound 5 days after the cpc's were seen, they were no longer there. The only other thing the doctor noticed was an echogenic focus -- a calcium spot on the heart, which is a soft marker for down syndrome. He pressured me to do the amnio, and I refused---my regular O.B.said next time around, she won't even make me take the triple screen test, and she was sorry to have upset me so much. So, please try not to worry. My regular OB told me that the specialist would offer an amnio even with just the cpc's. I guess it just depends on the doctor--so dont be alarmed that he offered the amnio. I know exactly how you feel, I still have wonders and worries that won't be answered until Jan. when my lttle girl gets here!! Im sure your baby is healthy and everything is fine. I have read and read about cpc's and it seems they are more common than our doctors realize.

Sandy, I had regular AFP results, and a perfectly good ultrasound, however there was a CPC. When we went to have our level II ultrasound they found a mm. short femur and then offered the amnio and we elected not to have it because of the immense risk for such soft markers. Don't allow anyone to scare you into that test, believe in your "gut instinct" and go with that! As I posted earlier, our son was born huge and healthy and we are certainly glad that we didn't allow anyone to pressure us into a test that we didn't need!

Hello everyone! I posted about 6 months ago about our 7th child (son) having CP cysts but no other markers for T-18. Matthew arrived on Sept. 15th (two weeks early) weighing in at 8lbs 11oz and totally healthy...and extra cute! Looking back I'm amazed at the emotions we went through...worry, fear, reslove, hope...and I am happy to say that we are just left with joy and thankfulness at the little blessing that he is. Hang in there and I will pray for you all, especially that you have peace and that you precious babies will be healthy (as it seems to be the case for all of the mothers that have posted). God bless!

I went the other day to the perinatologist for the level II scan. Within seconds of the scan starting they said it was NOT a CPC, just a completely normal ventricle of his brain that was slightly dilated and NOTHING to worry about. Praise God! I also got some beautiful pictures of his face in 3D, he is going to be the cutest little guy. I worried so much for 2 1/2 wks and that news was a total blessing. I'm due in January and now I'm looking forward to my son's birth. Thanks so much for the wonderful thoughts. I'll keep you all in mind and prayer.