Nuchal Fold Ultrasound

I know a lot of people have been wondering what is going on with me lately...so here is what has been happening.

Life sure does like to throw our family some big curve balls.

We are expecting another little bean, and with Levi's DS, we decided to go ahead and have the Nuchal Fold Testing done.  Basically it is an ultrasound that measures the thickness of the skin on the back of the baby's neck and the amount of fluid there as well.  We decided to do the testing because we wanted to be prepared for another DS child if that is what we were going to have, verses being totally in the dark like we were with Levi.  The test has to be done at 12 weeks gestation.  So we had our appointment on November 1st 2010.  

The news was not good.  I was not aware that they would be able to tell many things from looking at the neck, but I guess they can.  A normal measurement is 1-1.5 and our little bean measured a 5.8-5.9 (you can see the fluid on in the ultrasound pictures even).  We had a consultation with the perinatologist immediately following the ultrasound.  He told us that he had some major concerns as the measurement is really abnormal.  In a nutshell, what he told us is that there is a 50% chance it is a chromosomal issue.  If it is a chromosome problem it could be another DS (Trisomy 21) or he seemed pretty concerned about it being a Trisomy 13 or 18 which very sadly are both fatal.  If is not a chromosome problem he said the baby will have a major heart defect or an issue with the lymph system.  

We have an amnio scheduled for tomorrow (November 23rd 2010) at 1:30pm.  I am EXTREMELY nervous to have it done, as it does not come without risk.  There is a 1 in 1000 chance of having a miscarriage after the procedure.  We are almost 16 weeks along.  I don't want to say goodbye to this child simply because I chose to have testing done.  I am praying that everything goes well and we can get the answers we so desperately need.  The amnio will tell us if it is a chromosomal issue, and which one it is....If the test comes back normal then they will look for the other things.  We have decided that the best possible thing they could tell us is that we are expecting a little one with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome).  It takes 10 days to get the results so the next week or so is going to be stressful waiting.

I have been having a really tough time since our ultrasound on the 1st.  I keep having the same nightmare over and over of saying goodbye and burying our baby.  I haven't been sleeping well because I dont want to dream so I just dont really sleep....

I am trying my hardest to really bond now, even though we will have some answers soon, I dont want to take one day that I have with this bean for granted!  I treasure every little kick or flutter!