I also thought it would be helpful to share some of the main points that we discussed with the doctor when we had an opportunity to ask some questions:
- In his experience, the doctor feels that the majority of cystic hygromas resolve on their own. He
said he understands it would easy to let ourselves be discouraged and go down the path of what
happened last time, but he doesn’t want us to jump to any premature conclusions because it is
still early
- Doctor explained that cystic hygromas normally develop in one of 2 situations:
- Thoracic duct does not develop to manage fluid between the lymphatic system and venous
system so fluid builds up at back of neck. There is still a possibility that the duct will develop
and the cystic hygroma will resolve
- The heart forms abnormally and throws off the pressure and flow of fluids in the body and
fluid collects at back of neck
- There is nothing that we did to cause this, and there is nothing we can do to try to prevent it from
growing, getting worse- drugs, dietary changes, etc.
- There really isn’t any treatment available in-utero; any possibilities are invasive and pose more
of a threat to the baby than doing nothing
- Currently the heartbeat is normal and there is no sign of hydrops. The doctor would expect that
to develop by 18-20 weeks and will indicate heart failure is imminent. Until then, we will monitor
via ultrasound.
- If the cystic hygroma looks to be resolving on its own, we will still need close monitoring and a
fetal echocardiogram around 20 weeks to confirm that there are no major heart defects. If that
looks good, he would likely consider us “normal” again, but would still recommend being more
closely monitored by ultrasound to be safe.
- Doctor does not think that this is linked at all to my recent diagnosis of a single MTHFR mutation
(the blood clotting thing that prevents the absorption of folate and B vitamins)
- He also does not think it is related to our Unexplained Secondary Infertility
- The only risks that the pregnancy pose to Kara at this time are pretty rare
and unlikely:
- Mirror syndrome- if the baby gets hydrops, in very rare cases the mother will mirror those
symptoms
- Risks associated with C-section if baby gets hydrops that are very extreme and has to be
delivered by C-section