Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Anatomy Scan


Her foot measures 3 centimeters from heel to toe and her upper lip periodically stretches out into the shape of a pterodactyl beak and she spent much of the time with her forearms crossed across her face, casting hexes against the treachery visited upon her twice in one week.

She has a long neck and a beautiful aortic arch and a swimming fish for a heart. She also has a small cyst in her brain; a choriod plexus cyst.

This cyst is a soft indicator of trisomy 18, but is more likely nothing at all.

Everything else looks perfect.

We're not going to get amnio. We think everything will Be Okay. How's that for a New Year's Res?

Part of me feels that after the chaos of miscarriage and IVF, nothing can fuck with my panic button anymore unless there's a damned good reason behind it.

More importantly, I feel like we owe it to ourselves and to Lentil to let go of the pregnancy stress. This shit isn't just stress, it's the angst and worry and ambivalence and heartbreak that has been accumulating since 2005. That accumulation changes our perspective on everything, changes E's experience of pregnancy, and makes the news of the cyst all the more sinister. And that's just not right. It's too much for little pregnant E to bear.

And it's altogether too much weight on one little person with a 3 cm footprint.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh god, she's SO beautiful and perfect. Sending lots of love to you three. XOXOX Daisy

Anonymous said...

she is just lovely, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

She is fine. All other indications are perfect and this is just a benign, transient developmental occurrence.
She looks like an equestrian with powerful vocal chords --- just like the mommies. Or, maybe she's a budding Republican??? "Time Out" for Lentil.
Seriously, she is just lovely. She wants you both to relax and breathe easily. She's listening to your voices.

Jennifer said...

My twins BOTH had cysts on their brains, discovered at their anatomy scan. I went in for an amnio the next day, filled with dread and panic. Amnio came back just fine. Sure enough, the cysts were just those choroid plexus cysts, which are pretty typical. If there was a greater issue, there would be other markers, either in the sonogram or in blood work. Random cysts like this, they are typical and fine and annoying because they scare the sh*t out of us.

That picture is just beautiful!

bleu said...

I think your plan is just perfect and so smart. See you are already making great parenting decisions!!!

She is lovely.

Much love.

Anonymous said...

ohhh the image of a 3cm footprint of the lovely lentil has eeked me out of lurking.

she is a lovely little girl, and i get even at 3cm, that girl can stomp that foot and make her wishes known.

thanks for sharing the photo with us...

Melody said...

OMG she's gorgeous. Look at that long neck. She's going to be the next Julia Roberts.

Been gone for a while and finally getting back to my blogs. Congrats to both of you! A Girl!!

Aunt Becky said...

She looks beautiful. Just gorgeous. And Alex (and I) cannot wait to make her acquaintance.

starrhillgirl said...

Oh, she's tiny and precious....

R said...

Just beautiful!!

Rebecca said...

She's beautiful!

Anonymous said...

my 20 week ultrasound also showed a small choroid plexus cyst in the baby's brain. I was assured repeatedly by the midwife that there was nothing to worry about. As long as there are no other markers for any disorders, there is just nothing to worry about.
They didn't even offer any further tests for us.

Your daughter is going to be perfect :)

Drowned Girl said...

She's so sweet!

MsPrufrock said...

Oh, I so love ultrasound photos...beautiful.