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I wrote a week or so ago about my baby having 2 cysts. We went to Dallas for a Level 2 and the doctor there seemed VERY sure she would be just fine!!!!!

I know what you a going through. I'm 33 and I am in my 19th week. I have had two surprises with in a week of each other. Last Friday I found that I was pregnant with twins....what I shock, but we are very excited. Then this Friday I get the results from the ultrasound and Baby A looks fine, but with Baby B, they found bilateral cysts on each side of the brain and they also said that they found a spot on the heart which they referred to it as echogenic intracardiac focus. Which they told me are both sings of Trisomy 21 (Down's). I am a nervous wreck. I have to be scheduled for a level 2 ultrasound, fetal echo and genetic counseling. I have done nothing but sit in front of the computer searching the web. I have been on some many sites saying that they are both pretty common, but my Dr. is concerned because they found both, so that increases the chances of a chromosome disorder. They also suggested me getting an amino, which I am concerned about, because I know that it can increase you chances of a miscarriage. I have concerns with that, due to the fact the I am carrying twins, I am afraid that it will cause both to miscarry. I'm sure that everything will go fine for you. I know that everything that I have read on the cysts says that they are pretty common and generally go away. I wish you the best. If anyone has gone through the similar situation as mine. I would love for you to share your thoughts.....Thanks, Bridget

Hi Bridget.. Congrats on your twins. Look all, I haven't been back in to check out things for a while and after spending so much time worrying about that stupid level 2 ultrasound, I pretty much feel like it was ruining everything for me. My best friend is a labor and delivery nurse at one of the best hospitals in Boston, MA. She said that when these results are found in the city (Boston vs. small cities like where I live), they don't even discuss anything negative with their patients. Doesn't mean that I still don't worry and can't seem to wait for my repeat level 2 to see if the cysts and the echo are gone, but it is somewhat comforting. She and her colleagues at work are angry at what I have been going through, they see it so much that all they do is try to a__sure me that everything will be gone, though they don't belittle my anguish over everything. Anyway I'm plugging away and I am probably four weeks out from my next level 2. I am praying that things by then have resolved themselves, and if they haven't I will cross that bridge then. I hope that all is well with everyone. I don't know about all of you, but it seems like the old days were the way to go, they knew nothing!! Sometimes, I just wish that I didn't know, but then again modern medicine has it's ups. Take care... bye now. - B

Hello again everyone. I am hoping someone out there can make me feel better and help me get through the next several days. I had an amnio last Friday because during my 16week ultrasound, they found many CPC's on the left and right side of my baby's brain. After discussing my age, I am 36, we decided to do the Quad Screen and the numbers came back very frightening!! My chances of having a baby with T-18 is 1 in 6.7, due to my age and the cysts. I am just sick with worry that I am having difficulty getting through each day. I am suppose to get the results in 7-10 days, so hopefully by Monday. On the ultrasound, they measured all the bone structures and mostly everything looked fine, however, they weren't able to see get a good look at the bottem of the spine, she could see the top just fine, but had a hard time really seeing the bottem, also the arm bone measure just a tad bit short, not much and his one little hand seem to be in a bent position, like a limp wrist. I am just so worried and find it so hard to think of the positive things. He moved around a lot, and everything else measure good, the only negative things were the things they couldnt get a good enough look at. My OB said they would be able to get a better look at the heart on my 20 week ultrasound, but so far the heart looked good at 16weeks. All 4 chambers were there. If there is someone out there who can make me feel better about these odds 1:6.7 I would be so appreciative!!! Ketom

my 17 week scan also saw many choriod plexus cysts. We followed up with ultrasounds and did the quad screening.(the screening came back with very good results but keep in mind that it has a VERY high false positive rate) at my 24 week scan everything was perfectly fine. Nothings wrong with my lil boy. I never got the amnio done tho because either way I would not have terminated the pregnancy and it could have caused me to loose a perfectly good baby :-)

I also had an elevated Screen for Downs and had a Level 2 ultrasound the next day. High risk specialist said 1 CPC and no other markers. He recommended not doing amnio- no need. I am now 32 weeks and I am still scared and nervous that everything is all right.

marcy- im also 32 weeks now and i really dont think theres any problems with my lil one. I can t wait till hes born. Im so convinced that hes perfect. :-) good luck with urs. im sure everythigns fine

Hi. I am at 26 weeks this week, had my followup level 2 last week and the cpcs are gone. The echogenic intracardiac focus is still there, but from what the Docs tell me it typically doesn't go away, but it does not have anything to do with the function of the heart, which is functioning normal. Baby looks good and the light it much brighter at the end of the tunnel. Thanks so much to everyone and their knowledge, it's helped so much. I just hope that all your news comes back as mine did.

hello i wrote back in december after a very traumatic 20 week scan.when people tell you not to worry its impossible!!so do worry,cry and talk to everyone possible with info.alot of doctors in the USA are saying they hate telling us about these markers because they can't give you 100% accurate info.all i wanted to know at the time was what were the percentages but no one could say for sure!it was so frustrating!!i decided to go ahead with the amnio despite the risks ,because to try and live life without knowing for 4 months would have broken me completely.everything came back fine for us, but i feel for all those who were not so lucky.i am due in 8 weeks now and i'm trying to enjoy this last part of pregnancy. what was supposed to be a happy time for me has been soured totally by that second scans findings. if like me you can't live on normally without being sure i would advise the amnio.i found loads of great info on the usa sites, and there are lots of doctors there who'll email you with everything they can to help.i'm sure we need to raise more awareness about these soft markers, pregnancy is not exactly the best time to find out about them!!!good luck to you all and be positive despite the worry.Hazel xx

Hello Everyone! I wanted to post because I went through everything all of you are talking about. At my 20 week ultrasound, my Doctor detected CPCs on my liitle girl's brain. I stressed the entire rest of my pregnancy---hoping that everything would be fine. Well---I am posting today to let you know that I have a vey healthy 3 month old daughter. I don't know why doctors even share the info about CPCs if there are no other markers. Anyway, just try and think positive---the odds are truly in your favor that everything will be fine!!

i just found out at my 18 week u/s that my little girl has a cpc. i am totally freaked, and worry about trisomy 18 - considering the outcome. i go to the genetic counselor on monday for my repeat u/s. i know most of the time they go away, but what about when they don't? during my first u/s, the tech said everything looked structurally normal, so i keep thinking of that, but i still worry.

jsl i kno its hard not to worry. The same thiing happened to me. THere was mulitple cpc's tho..and they went away by my 24 week scan...Theyre not a problem unless something else is saw with them. DOnt let them talk u into an amnio unless something else is wrong

Hi everyone. This is my first time on this site. It actually took me a couple of days to do some research because I was too nervous. I went for my 21st week ultrasound and was told by one of the most rude doctors that my baby has a CPC. She had absolutly no bedside manners which made me and my husband feel even worse. I immediatly took a blood test for T18 and down syndrome. This is my first pregnancy and I am so scared. My husband is trying to stay positive but this fear of having an unhealthy baby, or any baby for that matter, is taking over me. I feel so scared and helpless and I dont know what to do. I am going back for another sonogram in 3 weeks. My doctor told me that thank g-d it didn't seem that the baby had any other signs for T18. I could really use some advice from anyone who has experienced this. Thank You so much. -Elizabeth

firstimemom- ur not aloneee! Just dont opt to do the amnio if they offer it. If there are no other signs of any abnormalities then u should be fine. THey might even go away by ur next scan. My sons went away by 24 weeks(he had 5 CPC) Hes 3 months old now and perfect

Thank you for so much for responding. When you found out that your son has CPC, did you take a blood test for T18 and down syndrome? If so, do you know how accurate the results are? I really appreciate your help. Thanks

we did do the test. Theres a very high chance of gettting a false positive tho. But either way Id be really worried so i decided to get it. Luckily ours came back good. I know its very hard not to worry..but honestly these things just got away 99 percent of the time. If theres no other problems ull really be okay. There are people even walking around today with CPC still...and theyre just fine. Just because they find them doesnt mean something will be wrong with ur baby. Good luck with the next scan. Im sure it will give u good news! :-)