Pregnancy Info HOME

I am also going through the same thing as you guys. I'm about 17 wks and they found the "dreaded spot" on the baby's heart. My blood work came back okay. I have another Ultrasound on May 10th. I'm SCARED too! But knowing the blood work was okay AND having SO MANY people on this message board with the very same situation is actually rea__suring. I believe it is more common than anyone every thought or knew of. Technology is so advance that they find things that they never could in the past. They have to let you know anything they find but it doesn't mean the worst. Most children who have Downs Syndrome have this spot. HOWEVER, not all babies that have this foci spot have Downs. We NEED to stay positive and be happy and healthy. Keep me updated and I will with all of you. I'm certain that on or around September 24th I will have a healthy little baby girl smiling at me!

Thanks to you all for your comments. I keep telling myself that everything will be okay, but I am so scared. I find it hard to concentrate on anything else. I also found out that the spot is in the right ventricle, which I guess is much worse than if it was in the left. Has anyone heard this before? We are meeting with a genetic counselor on Monday, but just for a consultation. I really hope they do another ultrasound. All of you are in my thoughts, and please keep me updated on your progress as well. I'm sure we will all have healthy, happy babies soon :)

Hi, it's Ottig again. I am now 25 weeks. Every now again the fear comes over me again as I start to think about the echogenci intracardiac focus (white calcium spot on my babys heart). I have been scheduled for a 32 week ultrasound as OB wants to check the measurements of my baby and to see whether the white spot is still there or whether it has disappeared. I have the fear that they may find more soft markers - has anyone else had the 32 week scan and more soft markers have appeared? Also has anyone had the 32 week scan and the white spot has disappeared? Await any comments. Thanks and good luck to all :)

A while back I had put a posting regarding the same issue everyone is facing. My daughter was born fine-Thank God. She's 3 months old right now and the calcium deposit isn't even mention by her pediatrician.

Can you believe this forum has been going on since June, 2005! It has got to be the most supportive and encouraging ones I have found on the internet. I wish all of you and your babies the best. I hope to keep hearing the sucess stories as well. I will make sure to post my own come August when my own beautiful baby is born.

I am counting the days down until my 2nd Ultrasound on May 14th. My baby has the spot on her heart too. blood work was good. Thank you all for being there and ESPECIALLY to the parents who have followed up with us and reported back on the success stories. very encouraging to hear. I will do the same when I have my healthy little girl on or around September 24th!

Hi, it's Ottig again. I am now approaching 26 weeks. Every now again the fear comes over me again as I start to think about the echogenci intracardiac focus (white calcium spot on my babys heart). I have been scheduled for a 32 week ultrasound as OB wants to check the measurements of my baby and to see whether the white spot is still there or whether it has disappeared. I have the fear that they may find more soft markers - has anyone else had the 32 week scan and more soft markers have appeared? Also has anyone had the 32 week scan and the white spot has disappeared? Await any comments. Thanks and good luck to all :) =

Hi to you all!! This place is where i found my only comfort during the 9 mos of my pregnancy. At my 18 week ultrasound they found the echogenic foci on my babys heart. I was terrified and convinced i was having a downsyndrome baby. I came home that day, i dont remember getting home, it is a blur, and it was just weeks away from xmas. I stayed in bed for days and cried and cried. I have a 3 year old son, and sadly he always saw me crying and didnt know why. I felt like someone literally punched me in the gut, i felt like i could not breathe, i felt as though my soul was in pause mode and i was just going through the motions. Anyway, happily, and thank god, i gave birth to a healthy baby girl on april 18, 2007. I was unable to enjoy my pregnancy, everyday was a struggle, in my head i battled the "what if's" all day, and night was worse, I was very depressed the whole time. I wish that doctors had more information on this and what it is and why, so no one else has to suffer through this. Best of luck to you all, and try not to worry, i know its hard, but be strong!!!

Hi Lolajet, firstly - congratulations on your beautiful healthy baby girl on April 18. I'm so happy to hear your success story - it gives us all strength and hope for our healthy babies in the near future to come. How old are you and did they give you risk factor for DS. Did you have the amnio? I will be 37 when my baby arrives in August 2007 and my risk was 1:405 at my 12 week scan and then after my 20 week scan they found the echogenic intracardiac focus spot on the heart and has adjusted my risk to 1:205-270. I opted out of the amnio. I too have my up and down days. I am 26 weeks pregnant. They have scheduled me in for another Ultrasound on/around week 32. Did you have anymore ultrasounds after your 18 week scan? I am nervous to have another scan in case they find more markers or whether they find something else wrong, although I have also read the echogenic spot can disappear by week 32 scan. I too have found some comfort on this site - which is positive. Thanks again for your input and happy story. I will also post once I have my baby (hopefully all A-OK) in August. Best of luck :)

Hello Families - I wanted to share my story as each and everyone of you gave me the hope that I so desperately needed. I am 32 and due late August. I am 24 weeks. After my 1st trimester scan I was given a 1/135 chance (.007%- it sounded better to us) of having a child with Downs Syndrome. It was at an early anatomy scan that the white spot was found on our little boys heart. It was a second b__w. For weeks we wrestled with the decision to do Amnio. Following another anatomy scan at 22 weeks and still a white spot present, we decided to do the Amnio. That was one week ago. This Tuesday we received the results of the FISH test. Our little boy is healthy!!!!! I can't thank you all enough for sharing your stories. I read through this site night after night. I know Amnio is a very personal decision, but it has changed my life and my husbands. I feel as though I can breathe again. We are enjoying our pregnancy again!! Testing is getting out of control and I know for our second child I will not allow myself or any of my family to be put through this again. HAVE FAITH!!! You too WILL have a healthy baby!! Thank you again!!!

Hi Heather McG, I am happy to hear your happy news. Am glad that you can enjoy your pregnancy. I am 26 going onto 27 weeks. My baby has a white spot which was diagnosed at 20 weeks. My husband and I sweated over the amnio and in the end decided not to go ahead. At times I really regret it, as I have my up and down moments. I am 36 years old but will be 37 when my baby is born in August. My risk is 1:204 (0.49%). I have to wait until 32 weeks for another Ultrasound to check on the baby and it's measuresments, and to see whether the white spot is still there, etc... Everything else seemed fine with my baby at 20 weeks, but I am so nervous that they will find something else when I have my next scan or whether they will be able to see something more clearly. This white spot situation has really made me not enjoy this pregnancy, as I get the odd anxiety attack. Although it has been heard and I have read (in this forum) that it is a very common finding, you sometimes can't help thinking but WHAT IF with my baby? Anyway, enough from me, once again I happy to hear your positive result. Enjoy your pregnancy :)

I'm 35 and 19 weeks pregnant. I just found out during my level 2 u/s yesterday that my little girl has a calcium deposit on her heart (echogenic foci). I was told by the sonographer and doctor that this is common (due to advances in u/s technology) and controversial, but it is still a soft maker for DS. No other markers were found, and my AFP test was normal. I'll update you after my monthly OB appointment tomorrow. I'm still debating about having an amnio.

Hi Alison. I understand how you feel re. being unsure on the Amnio. Let me know what the outcome is after your OB appointment. My OB a__sured me that it is a minor marker, and didn't think it necessary to do the Amnio as everything else appeared to be normal, but still now and again I begin wondering. Was your risk altered at all for Downs? Mine was adjusted from 1:405 to 1:204-270 after finding the echogenic white spot on my baby's heart. I am now 27 weeks and have my next Ultrasound at 32 weeks. I am scared, but when reading this forum it does bring light as there are a lot of success stories. I did not do the Amnio. Await your positive news. LOL

I am 20 weeks pregnant now. My blood work came back negative for Downs Syndrome but my baby has the spot on "her" heart too. My next appointment is this Monday the 14th. Just like you Ottig, I am praying that the spot went away. I will let you all know the update!

Hi Jodi, Thanks for writing back. Will be happy to hear your outcome after Monday 14th - are you having an ultrasound?? I have just come back from my GP - I was having a few days of anxiety - so thought I would go and have a chat with her. She helped me a little - although I can't wait till I see my little baby in August. Good luck on Monday, keep us posted LOL

Hi Ottig, Just came back from the OB. I found out my AFP results were 1/8500 for DS (better than the typical 1/270 for 35)! Now I'm waiting for the recalculated number due to the echogenic foci. I think it will be 3 fold due to my age. However, the results will still be greater than the amnio 1/200 risk, so I decided against it. The NP kept rea__suring me how common this spot was. I asked if she had ever delivered a baby with this single marker that had DS. She said no! She also said they see this a lot in their office, and that if the UConn Health Center wasn't worried about it then I shouldn't be either (she said they always want to do more extensive testing such as an amnio and echocardiogram). I am somewhat relieved. I'm praying for all of us to have healthy babies. I'll send my final odds number once I get the call.