I had my 20 week scan today -- brain left ventricle appears prominent -- very worried

[mum2bagain]

The consultant kind of explained what this meant, but basically they go around the houses, told me not to worry and come back in 2 weeks for a further scan. The sonographer said the ventricle measurements were right at the top end and this is the reason for scanning again in 2 weeks to see if there is any change, if not, they will request a brain scan on the baby to see if there is water or blood on the brain. I understand the need to check into anything they see as abnormal or possibly abnormal, but the consultant told me really not to worry as this was quite a common finding and the chances of there actually being an abnormality is very small. I've been in turmoil all day and will be for the next 2 weeks. I have 3 other children, all boys, my pregnancies were all relatively normal and they are wonderful, and this little one is a boy too!!! No girls for me as this is the last one.

Can anyone shed a little light on my problem, or has anyone had a similar experience? I don't want to go through the next 2 weeks feeling like I do now.

Thanks x

[wrinklytum]

Oh I don't know,sweetie,but did not want to leave your post unanswered.

The positive is that the consultant said it was a common finding but this doesn't stop the worry does it??

Could you ring the ward and see if the consultant could find a few minutes to explain things again to you??

I guess there are no guarantees with all this.I had a "normal" pg and found out later dd had problems.(Saw neurologist today and she has a intellectual age of 18 months (she is 2.5))I would not be without her,though.

Big hugs,hope things are fine xxx

[itsabitdelicate]

this exact thing happened to me. Except I was a bit further on, about 28 weeks I think. I was told my dd had a dilated ventricle, and they booked me in for another scan the following week on a better machine.

I was worried sick, too. My dh was home at the time (I was in Germany) and he went into a frenzy, calling everyone he could think of, and finally found a private practice where they could see me that evening.

Well, everything was absolutely FINE. The doctor I saw that night told me that this occurs in some pregnancies, about 5% I seem to remember, and I can't remember what caused it or anything, but essentially the ventricle went back down again itself. They scanned my dd's brain the day after she was born, and there was nothing there. Well, her brain was there, but no problems with it!

I totally understand you're worried - have you any way of getting the scan pushed forward, or paying for a private scan? It might help to set your mind at ease.

[Sausageandmash]

This happened to me last week, at 23 week scan, so I know what sort of a panic you'll be in. Do you know what measurement they gave the ventricles? From my exhaustive internet surfing and searches on mumsnet and other forums, it seems that when my baby's ventricles were measured at 10.1mm, it tipped my measurements into the very lowest end of ventriculomegaly, which they are now going to monitor. But it sounds as though the hospital is just being very thorough with you.

I really hope that you can get some answers from the team or that you can just get through the wait as calmly as possible. I think the wait is to allow sufficient time for the ventricles to do as they will - it might normalize, prove stable or progress to a larger measurement, and I think these are what they might base their final diagnosis on.

In terms of my reading, boys are more likely than girls to have a larger ventricular measurement as part of their normal growth. Hope this helps.