The Prayers and Well Wishes must be Working

Well, I am back from my appointment to follow up the results of my ultrsound yesterday. Our baby does not have Duodenal Atresia. At the 2nd ultrasound at 22 weeks, the tech scanned and saw several small cysts that they thought to be a "double bubble" because of the angle of the wand and the baby. It made it look like a double bubble in the stomach.

Our baby does have something called Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney.

I copied this info from something I found on the net.

Fetal multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) is a condition that results from the malformation of the kidney during fetal development. The kidney consists of irregular cysts of varying sizes that resemble a bunch of grapes. It has no function, and nothing can be done to save this kidney. This defect generally only affects one of the kidneys, so typically the other healthy kidney will grow larger to compensate for the diseased one. Occasionally the disease affects both kidneys, which is incompatible with life, causing the fetus to be stillborn or to die shortly after birth.

Incidence of the condition
In the United States it is estimated that 1 in every 2400 live births are affected by fetal MCDK. It generally occurs at the same rate in both females and males. In approximately 50% of babies diagnosed with this disease other urological defects are found. However, the other defects can generally be corrected with surgery or by observation alone.Diagnosis of fetal multicystic dysplastic kidneyA fetal MCDK is generally diagnosed by ultrasound (sonogram) examination before birth. Evaluation of the kidneys is part of the routine ultrasound examination done by many obstetricians as part of their prenatal care around the 20th week of pregnancy.

Treatment for MCDK
Nothing can be done to treat a fetal MCDK. However, after the baby is born, the progress of the MCDK is tracked through a series of ultrasound examinations every six months to a year. It is monitored to make sure that it does not grow or develop a tumor. Most often, the MCDK will regress and disappear eventually, leaving the child with one healthy kidney. In addition to tracking the MCDK, the healthy kidney is screened for any defects such as a blockage or reflux. If there is something wrong, this allows the physicians time to intervene quickly to in order to save the functioning kidney before it worsens.

Long-term outlook
The long term outlook is generally very good for these children. It is rare for a child with MCDK to have symptoms later in life that stem from this problem.
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Anyways, my Doctor was pleased to share this information, and said this is so much better for the outcome of our baby. Thankfully the cysts are not that large, and they are only on the top part of the left kidney. And the baby's bladder appears to be normal, and my amniotic fluid surrounding baby is normal too. All good signs. Our baby is a fighter!

I am being forwarded onto a specialist at Childrens Hospital. My appointment has already been booked for April 5th at 4:00 pm. We will meet with him (he is a really good Specialist says Dr. D) he will do an ultrasound and explain more in detail about the condition, and answer any questions at that time. Thank God there are no cysts on the other kidney, as that could prove fatal to the baby, or that the baby would require a kidney transplant.

This appointment will give the specialist the information that my Doctor will need to take care of our baby after it is born. Most likely antibiotics etc. And then we will see the specialist once baby is born. And we go from there.

I have a bit of relief, and am learning that babies are not always born healthy. But in our case our baby will be virtually healthy. And that is good enough for me for now.

I have to start really bonding with this baby, and preparing for him or her now. I need to start nurturing myself, to nurture the baby. Because this baby will be joining us in 12 short weeks or so. Maybe earlier. So, I am thankful for this bit of relief, I can have a normal, routine delivery etc.

So, thank you everybody for your love and support and prayers over the past few weeks. Please continue to keep our baby in your prayers. He or she is going to be the biggest blessing in all of our lives. I am so looking forward to loving this baby. To just get past this, and grow up our family.

Truly my baby making days are over after this baby. I feel ready to move on. I am blessed 5x's over. Tears of joy and relief spill from my eyes knowing I have this extra chance to nurture another baby is truly a miracle.

Cathy
27 weeks 5 days