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Hi everybody, I had a second level 2 ultrasound today. I had my first one at "just" 18 weeks, and he wanted me back in a few weeks to measure everything again. Everything at 18 weeks look normal and good. But, hh ladies, I got some bad news today. Not devastating, mind you, but it is so hard to soke in. Basically, he thinks that the feet will be mildly club -- the are turning in slightly at the ankles. From everything i'm reading, this can be common and VERY treatable. The pictures i'm seeing on the darn internet, though, are very scary. Just the word "birth defect" is so scary. My husband is being extremely great. He says that in the grand scheme of things, this is just going to be a minor inconvenience to us. Anyway, the dr. also said that what he saw could be the feet pressing up on the uterus, but that he didn't think so. I'm to go back in 4 weeks again to get a comparison. Sorry to be the "debby downer" of the day... but I just wanted to share.... ~Kathy

Hi Kathy - Please do not apologize for being a downer, we are here to share, both our milestones and our challenges. I can understand that the news must be very difficult for you. I had mildly clubbed feet when I was born and it doesn't affect me at all. My mom told me once that I slept at night with braces on my feet, but I certainly don't remember anything about it and I walked and crawled at the "normal" ages. I had actually forgotten about her telling me until I read your post. The top internet pages always show the worst - when I was looking for information on amnios, the first few stories I found were all about women who had bad outcomes or horrible experiences. I have written maybe four sentences and then erased them trying to find the words to end this post - whatever I write seems trite. It IS treatable, it IS a minor problem in the grand scheme...unless it is happening to you. I will be thinking about you and wishing you the best. Robin

I have a dear friend who was born with one club foot and her father said that he made a promise to himself that if they were able to correct her walking - which they did - at a young age - he would buy her all the shoes she would ever need for life. :-) She is now in her 30's and I'm pretty sure her daddy is still buying shoes. In her case, since it was one foot, she is 1/2 size different in one foot to the other...but no one can tell and she walks just like the rest of us. With all that being said - it could be NOTHING at all. So... try to remain positive and enjoy your pregnancy!

HI GUYS!! First I wouldn't get too upset over the club foot-I know that is easier said then done but both my boyfriend and myself had braces on while we were little (not that we remember) and you could never tell! I had my second level sonogram today..ITS A BOY!!!!!! They said the baby was 9 ounces..his anatomy was beautiful BUT they said my cervix was measuring a little short. I was a little upset because she waited until the end to tell us so we were so happy the entire time and then BOOM lol..they want me to come back in a week. IT was measuring 2.3..but at my 12 week they didn't mention anything about a short cervix so maybe she didn't get good measurements? or maybe it's nothing? I'm trying not to go on the internet and look it up because everything says "incompetent cervix" or "preterm labor" and it's making me very very scared..Well we'll see what happens next week..as for now I have a beautiful son !

Congratulation JMP! A bouncing baby boy! Your boyfriend must be so excited - are you still planning to name him Kevin? I don't know a lot about having a short cervix; I have a friend who had 5 children and for each pregnancy she got a few st_tches in her cervix at around 5 months - would that be for the same thing? She was also on bedrest at the end of her pregnancies, but by baby number 3 she sure enjoyed the rest. In any case, as you said they may have gotten the measurements wrong. Concentrate on the great news you received about his anatomy and on the plus side, you get to go back in a week and see your son again!! My u/s is next Thursday, when is yours? I know I can't wait to see mine again; I was so anxious when I went for the amnio that I didn't really appreciate seeing her. Kristin? Hope all is well with you, we would love to hear your updates. Wishing everyone the best.

Hi Ladies, PRetty much good news all round . Flroses..try not to worry about the club feet thing. Even if your baby has a mild turned in foot..like you said it is very treatable. My oldest brother had club feet and again wore the braces. You'd never know this now. JMP, congrats on your baby boy!! You must be so happy. I don't know much about the short cervix..but I think I mentioned I have a low lying placenta..which could cause similar issues. Cndbird, I forgot to answer your question about dopplers. I'm sure you are probably past the stage where you may desire one. But I rented mine from a Canadian company tummytickles dot com. With my other child I used babybeat dot com. I use the doppler probably once a day..sometimes I don't bother at this stage as I can feel the movements quite a bit. My update is nothing much to speak of. I have my next OB app on May13th. I am 22 weeks tomorrow. Feeling pretty good overall. Showing alot more now..I think I popped about a week ago. I have been having periodic headaches on the left side of my head. I actually had these for about 8weeks with my last pregnancy. I have also had some lower backaches the last two days. I think this may have been from sitting on a hard floor with my daughter for over an hour the other day. I am so glad we are keeping this thread alive. Hoping everyone continues to do well and that JMP your shortened cervix does not become an issue. Talk to you all soon.

Hey guys just wanted to post a little update. So I've scheduled another ultrasound to look at the baby's spine (He wouldn't turn over for us! lol) and check my cervix for Friday (I don't mind coming back, I get to see the baby again!) Anyway, my BFs Mom is a nurse and used to work with my OB/GYN so after yesterdays disaster (mind you they told us at the end of the exciting and amazing ultrasound that my cervix was short and it pretty much got my BF very upset) his Mom called my doctor and asked her to look at the chart from the ultrasound. A normal cervix is about 3.0 and I was told that my cervix was 2.3 HOWEVER when my doctor talked to his Mom she told her that my cervix was really 2.7 and when it was flattened it was a 2.3 (your cervix is supposed to get shorter when you flatten it) So my doctor said she is not worried about it at all and that I shouldn't be worried either but to still go back and get it checked again. So I'm not worrying I felt so relieved to hear this news and so did the BF. We were pretty upset and really wasn't understanding what was going on. I also found out the placenta is in the front lol which could be the reason that I'm not feeling him as much! All I can say is that I'm very very happy about my son and I hope everyone is doing well! We just need to keep the faith =) Kristin I'm praying that everything will be okay for us, I have a good feeling! Hope everyone is well! -BY the way now that we found out it's a boy I'm really planning on naming him Kevin but now the BF isn't so sure about Kevin LOL go figure!!

Hi all - It's been a while.. I had my second u/s at 18 weeks last week and all is good.. It's a girl, and we are so happy. It was truly amazing - as you all have experienced - to see the baby for such an extended time as they take all the measurements - and with her tossing and turning and flipping. :) Now just suffering from occa__sional heartburn + gas in the eve's and dealing and don't care much cuz all my attention is on the beautiful baby now. How wonderful that some of you can feel it move. I only felt quivering last week few times. Not actual movement. May be that is at 20 + weeks? By the way, they said my placenta is in the front as well. The tech said that is good. I don't know much about it .. And the cervix measured something about 4.. Maybe I should read up on it.. but just don't feel like it - and want to just enjoy this nice phase after the horrible nausea months. Starting to clean up house of the clutter, and make space. Thinking of colors. Anyone know of good websites where you can see nursery decors?? Also - anyone know of websites where you can sign up for coupons for things? I would like to start that. Take care everyone. Congrats on making it to or past the mid pregnancy!!

Hey guys..So some bad news. Well the baby is wonderful his anatomy and everything is perfect (he's really an active kid!) but my cervix was measuring a little shorter and now I have to go once a week to measure it and this week they said no work, no standing, no lifting. I'm so upset. I'm so young and really active that I'm just really upset. The Tech said 75% of the time it's an incompetent cervix (which puts you at a higher risk for preterm labor) and the other 25% is your anatomy. We won't know if it's my anatomy or not for a few weeks if everything keeps measuring the same. So I'm a little upset and discouraged..AND silly me went online and searched preterm labor and incompetent cervix and it's just so scary! Women who lose babies in the second trimester and they don't even feel they don't even feel their cervix open and oh it's terrible. I'm pretty depressed. Everything I was feeling before any aches, pains, pressure or stretching I would just be happy and say my little one is growing now I just feel so worried with every pull I'm wondering if I'm going to lose the baby =( Sorry to rain on everyone's parade! I'm going Friday to see my OB and then Thursday for another sonogram. I hope all is well with everyone! xox

Oh Phooey JMP!! Sorry to hear this, but it sounds like your physician is taking care of you and monitoring the situation closely - I had a friend who lost 3 (?) before they figured out why - after that she went on to have 2 brilliant children - just a lot of bed rest - they had to st_tch her cervix closed or whatever they did 25 years ago... Hang in there! Time to call in family and friends to help you with your "to-do" list and just suck it up. I know that asking or agreeing to help is a HARD thing to do. I'm VERY independent!!

JMP - didn't mean to come across as flippant...hope you didn't take it that way. I spent 3 weeks on bedrest with my first pg (early 1st trimester) hoping to save a pregnancy that turned out to be molar. I understand some of the fear and frustration you are going through and can only imagine how much more intense it would have to be at this stage of your pregnancy!!

Hi everyone! JMP - I understand that you must be very worried - but as tryingx3 said, it sounds as if you doctor if following you very closely. If they were very worried, they would have had you have the st_tch to make sure it stays closed. They are probably waiting to see if it changes before they make that decision. If they were extremly concerned about you they wouldn't even have sent you home. Do what they say and take it easy. Remember before I mentioned my friend had an incompetent cervix and she had 5 beautiful children. As for me, I went for my ultrasound today and the tech said everything was good, but the placenta was a little low. It's not covering the cervix or anything, but she wants me to go back at the end of July for another scan to make sure it moves up as the baby grows. I certainly hope it does - I have had two v____al births and am scared stiff of having a caesarean! The baby was really cute on the scan, she sucked her thumb and waved. We got a really good photo of her hand pressed up against my uterus. Kristin, you mentioned that you have a low lying placenta - how low is it? Does is cover part of your cervix? And thank you for the info on the doppler. Glad to read everyone's updates; JMP I'll be thinking about you - take it easy and let us know how you're doing.

Hi Ladies, I am 23 weeks today. I had my apointment on wednesday. My results for the maternal serum were 1:1890 for downs and a 16,800 for spina bifida. (Actually I do not have the exact results in front of me but they are approx those numbers.) So I am pretty happy about that. I was also told that my lowlying placenta is not lowlying but anterior. My doc was upset that the tech mentioned this as the doctor who wrote up the report did not feel that way. I was hoping I would atleast get another ultrasound just to double check this but my doc was pretty definite in her response that it was not low lying..so we shall see. Other than that still suffering from sciatic pain in my hip and leg/back. Having migraines on the left of my head..but other than that everything seems good. I can't beleive I am almost 6 months pregnant. I am leaving Wednesday to travel to San Diego to visit my brother and family so I will not be checking in for a week or so. Hope everyone else continues to do well.

felt first kicks from outside yesterday!!! :)

Very cool Bumblebee! Mine kicks up a storm until the minute someone puts their hand on my belly - she then gets stage fright and immediately stops moving lol! I am doing good, a lot more energy, but I have been having some slight cramping (kind of like when you are getting your period). I am pretty sure it is the start of braxton hicks. I asked during my u/s and the tech said it was normal, especially as this is number 3. As I said, they are light; I still remember what the "real" ones feel like - and there is no mistaking what those are!! JMP - I have been thinking about you, how did it go at the doctor and u/s? Let us know how you are doing. Take care everyone; love to hear your updates.

Hey Guys sorry it's been so long just so much going on! WELL the baby is very active I love it! He's all over the place, haven't really felt him from the outside but I feel him inside all the time! My poor BF feels so left out since he can't feel the baby yet LOL..I really am comfortable pregnant right now but it's really unfortunate that I'm on bed rest. I'm very active and this has been very difficult! Just goes to show that even though you are young doesn't guarantee anything. They caught my short cervix at 19w3d and today I'm 22 weeks today and still on bed rest. My cervix has maintained the same length over the past 3 weeks and my last sonogram on Thursday was 2.3 (the same) with no signs of funneling or anything. SO since they've seen me every week and it's been constant they want to see me again in two weeks to make sure everything is okay. I have to go back June 5 when I'll be 23w3d and check again and I'm praying that it's the same. I'm constantly nervous and found that this experience has taken all the fun out of being pregnant I'm always worried if every pull or stretch or pressure is a bad thing. On a lighter note it will all be worth it in the end and I hope to keep him in there as long as possible even if that means total bed rest! I put a new picture of him up from our level 2 doesn't he look beautiful!!