Week 21

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart....

I started my week hearing those words...

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart....

I had my monthly OB appointment on Monday the 7th after school at 4:50pm. I went by myself. All they typically do for your monthly appointment is listen to the baby's heartbeat, measure your stomach, test your urine, and answer any questions you may have. Because these appointments are so quick and the doctor's office is near my school, Brian & I figured that I could go it alone rather than have him try to rush there after work.

On Monday, that's just how my appointment started. I heard McKenna's heartbeat, which was 144 bpm. I even taped it to my phone and then texted it to my family - which the nurse said I was first person to ever do! (If you want me to send it to you, text me!)

After the heartbeat, we continued as usual, my urine came back fine - no protein and whatever else they test for - then she measured my stomach. She measured from the top of my rounded belly (where my uterus begins) to my pelvic bone. I measured 21 inches - which is perfect! She said that you should measure as many inches as you are weeks along in your pregnancy.

When we were done with all of the basic things, the nurse stepped out and said that Dr. Kagan would be in shortly.

Dr. Kagan then came into the room. He told me that he had the results of our ultrasound.

Results? what do you mean results? We were already told that it's a girl. What other results could there be?

He then began to tell me that they found something in the baby's heart when they reviewed the ultrasound pictures. It's called Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart. Dr. Kagan tells me not to freak out....and I begin to wonder why I'm at this appointment by myself. I'm trying to keep my cool...all I know is I just heard that something is wrong with her heart....

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart are calcium deposits within the heart muscle. McKenna's is in her ventricular valve. They don't cause any problems with form or function of the heart. Her heart is healthy. They won't be there all of her life, they could dissipate as early as the 3rd trimester.

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart is a marker for Down Syndrome. There are several other items that can be found during an ultrasound exam that some researchers have felt that may have a significant association with Down Syndrome. These findings may be seen in normal fetuses, but some obstetricians believe that their presence increases the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormality. Some of these "markers" include foreshortened thigh and upper arm bones, echogenic bowel, nuchal (or neck) thickening, kidney abnormalities, choroid plexus cysts and structural fetal abnormalities, such as a heart defect.

With that being said, we have a level two ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, December 11th at 11:00am. They want to take a closer look at McKenna to see if there are any more indicators - the more markers they find the higher the likelihood of McKenna having Down Syndrome. If that is the only marker she has, then the chance is very very unlikely.

Does it matter what the outcome? No.

Do we care if our daughter has Down Syndrome? No.

Do I still have worries? Yes.

I'm a Special Education Teacher. My most favorite student at school has Down Syndrome. I would be SO blessed to have a child just like him. I couldn't love a child more. But, I would be lying if I didn't express my nervousness for tomorrow and I don't know why.

I have the best husband in the world. He didn't flinch at the news one bit. He didn't care. It doesn't matter one way or another to him. He just gave me a big hug when I got home. McKenna has the best Dad. She'll probably be a Daddy's Girl.

My family responded exactly as I thought they would. They are so so supportive. They love her so much - the outcome doesn't matter.

We'll know more tomorrow after our 11:00am ultrasound.

Trip & I headed to my parent's house on Wednesday for our week 21 dinner. It was just Mom, Kris, & I.

same 'ol same 'ol 39 in.

Week 21 info:
Baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long - the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well. (she's not happy I just told you that!)