worried about the foot...

[elang99]

Hey Ladies,
Today my really good friend had her OB appt, and when she got back to work afterwards, she didn't seem very happy - so i asked what was wrong - and she told me that the ultrasound report said 'had trouble finding the left foot' or something along those lines. So, she is really worried that her baby might not have a left foot. But, her first ultrasound didn't mention any abnormalities. She had one at 18 weeks, but her OB wasn't happy with the results, so she had another at 28 - and the 28 week one is where they couldn't find the foot. At first she said that her OB told her she can go for another ultrasound if she wants to, but she said there really isn't any point b/c there is nothing you can do about it until the baby is born anyway...BUT, she came back to my desk a little bit later and asked if not having a full bladder would have made it harder for them to see everything - and I have to agree with that - when your bladder is full they can see much more clear than if it is not full - so I told her - if it will put your mind at ease to know for sure - go back for another one. It can't hurt to know for sure. So, she is going to sleep on it for a few days and see how she feels. I hope I told her the right thing - I told her not to worry about it until they see their baby - and that everything else is healthy and perfect so far - its not the heart or lungs.. it is a foot. You don't need a foot to survive. I tried to reassure her as best I could, but I think I would react the same way. What do you ladies think?

[DL]

It's always difficult to know for sure what the BEST things to say may be, but it sounds to me like you did a pretty good job with your advice! This momma is having a tough time thinking about the possibility, and that's totally understandable. I think it's great that she's going to sleep on it to see how she's feeling about things in a few more days. Whatever she needs to do in order to find some peace about this is what is best for her. Her knowing for sure either way may, indeed, be what she needs, but then again...she may settle down to waiting since nothing can be done right now anyway. Just be there for her because she may need some support from you regardless of her decision. I hope you'll keep us posted with the outcome of this.

[Elizabeth]

I think that's the trouble with ultrasounds sometimes. There's a lot of room for error, and they scare moms when there's usually nothing to worry about. I volunteer at a clinic that provides prenatal care to low-income women...They all get ultrasounds, and quite often, are told that something looks questionable or concerning. Another ultrasound is requested, and everything is usually just fine, but it's very frustrating that they're put through that unnecessary stress to begin with. It sounds like you are giving your friend some great advice, and I'd also remind her that ultrasounds are not error-proof.

[Annie]

Do you know what results the ob was not happy with at the 18 wk one?

I would suggest to her to call her doctors office and ask them to fax her a copy of the ultrasound report. Having the results in writing may be a little easier to understand and may help her determine how concerned she should be. In the ultrasound reports I have viewed (mine and other family) they catagorize each body part on various subcatagories such as how well of a view of that area they got and also how much of a concern they feel an abnormality is present.

I am not sure how likely your friend was to ask many follow-up questions. However another take on it could be your friend asked if they got a good view at everything, they said they couldn't see the foot- meaning they just couldn't get to the area, not that it was missing, then your friend worried some about not seeing it and the ob tried to reassure her by telling her the other stuff including you can come back in and check later. Maybe a little unlikely, but something to consider.

Good Luck and keep us updated,
Annie

[Annie]

One other thought to add, if she does go back into have another one.... if they can't see the foot with the traditional ultrasound tell her to request they do a transvaginal (probe inserted into the vagina) ultrasound to see if they can get a better look. A transvaginal ultrasound is generally only used in very early ultrasounds, however they can also be of assistance in viewing other areas in later pregnancies, from my experience.

-Annie

[Lindsay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elang99 Hey Ladies, if it will put your mind at ease to know for sure - go back for another one. It can't hurt to know for sure. So, she is going to sleep on it for a few days and see how she feels. I hope I told her the right thing - I told her not to worry about it until they see their baby - and that everything else is healthy and perfect so far - its not the heart or lungs.. it is a foot. You don't need a foot to survive. I tried to reassure her as best I could, but I think I would react the same way. What do you ladies think?

I'd probably have told her the same thing with one consideration--even though it's true, you don't need a foot to survive, it's still feels pretty big to think about the things that won't be as easy for one's baby without that one foot.

When my little one had his emergency, and DH told me there was some debate about whether they'd be able to save the tip of his finger, it was really upsetting to me. I knew he'd survive easily without the tip of his finger, and it really wasn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but there was still some grief involved over the idea of my child not being "whole". It's quite possible she's feeling a little of the same.

[elang99]

I think with the first ultrasound, they just couldn't see the baby as well b/c it was too small to get all the proper measurements and maybe her bladder wasn't full enough - her family physician never sent her for another ultrasound, but when she was transferred to the OB, she requested another ultrasound just so she could have all of the proper information. My friend also told me that when she had the last ultrasound done - the baby was lying tranverse and the technician had her lying on her side so she could see things, so maybe the foot was just hiding under her pelvic bone or something - b/c I know at my last ultrasound, my baby was transverse - and the technician kept taking the probe over my pelvic bone. I will definitely keep everyone posted - I know a foot isn't as important as major organs, but she is a worry wart and I hope that she does decide to go for another ultrasound just so she can put her mind at ease and not worry for the next 10 weeks about a foot.

Thanks ladies!!

[RosyDoula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth I think that's the trouble with ultrasounds sometimes. There's a lot of room for error, and they scare moms when there's usually nothing to worry about. I volunteer at a clinic that provides prenatal care to low-income women...They all get ultrasounds, and quite often, are told that something looks questionable or concerning. Another ultrasound is requested, and everything is usually just fine, but it's very frustrating that they're put through that unnecessary stress to begin with. It sounds like you are giving your friend some great advice, and I'd also remind her that ultrasounds are not error-proof.

But I hope everything works out.

[MamaAshley]

You know, I get so annoyed when I hear about things like this happening. Bare with me why I rant about Ultrasounds for a second please.
My DD, who is a happy and healthy 8 1/2 month old, was supposedly going to be "not normal". I was told by an OB at 24 weeks that they found many cysts on her brain and other "markers" that told them my DD would be Trimosy 18 or some other complication. I worried myself SICK over this until they did another scan at 30 weeks and low and behold she was perfect! What a change in just a few short weeks, huh? NOW, it gets better. My best friend had probably a total of 3 ultrasounds during her pregnancy, and each one came back fine. Her baby was born Sept. 5th 2006, and she had a MAJOR heart complication, and underwent open heart surgery at 3 days old! She has a life-time of heart surgeries ahead of her if she makes it through the one she'll have this month, and will live life as a 2 ventrical heart child, they have to abandon the left side of her heart. After talking with many doctors, they all told her this is something that should come up in an 18 week ultrasound and she should have been given the choice to terminate, which she said she wouldn't have anyhow, but still! How can they not see the left side of her heart is pretty much non- existent! Why bother doing these ultrasounds? She is so angry over it, but of course she has to move on with her life and be there for her baby. It's so hard b/c we were so excited to both have baby girls at the same time, now she practically lives at the hospital and my baby is perfectly healthy.

Anyhow, sorry for writing all that, but what I'm getting at is that ultrasounds I feel sometimes do more harm than good. I have decided that if I have any further children I will not be going for an ultrasound.

[elang99]

I do totally agree.. ultrasounds aren't always right - when I was overdue with my daughter I had 2 ultrasounds in the 2 weeks I went overdue and my midwife guessed at a 7 1/2lb baby - and she was 8 1/2 pounds... lol I know that is nothing like a heart complication... and.. OH.. here is a great ultrasound blooper also... my best friend went for an ultrasound at 28 weeks and the tech couldn't find her cervix! so, they rushed her over to the hospital, consulted with the radiologist who told her she was 10cm dialated and she was going to have the baby that night - then the OB on call came in, examined her and told her that she isn't even dilated AT ALL.... her and her husband were SO scared and freaking out the whole time over nothing. It so happened that she ended up going into labour at 32 1/2 weeks and they had a preemie girl on Dec. 3rd. she was breathing on her own right away and is at home with mommy and daddy now. But to be told you are in labour at 28 weeks?!! omg.. how scary! her midwife wrote a letter to the ultrasound lab the next day.

[ctowndoula]

Yea, "realiable ultrasound" is probably a bit of an oxymoron.

Not to sound too off the wall, but did she have a CVS early in her pregnancy? There is some risk of limb malformations with that procedure.