18 Weeks and CPC

18 Weeks Down!

Jack is beginning to form myelin around his little nerves, and his ears have migrated to their final position on his little head! Jack weighs 8oz and is 6 inches long!

How far along? 18 weeks down, on to the 19th!

Total Weight Gain: Finally, I had my doctor's appointment today! I have officially gained 10 pounds so far during this pregnancy. (Was 137, now 147). 

Symptoms: No symptoms other than slight cramping.

Stretch Marks: None

Sleep: So-so. Harry is sprouting about four teeth at once right now on top and bottom and is having a hard time sleeping. This makes our sleep interrupted but it is still good sleep. Not complaining considering I am not the one cutting a handful of teeth!

Highlight This Week: Jack's anatomy scan! Daddy and Harry were there, too. It was great to see Jack!

We were given great news and a bit of scary news. Great news is that Jack is structurally "perfect" from his brain to his toes, and he is growing right on target so far. The scary news was that the sonographer found a choroid plexus cyst (CPC) in his brain. It went a little something like this...

Doctor: "Anymore questions for me?"

Us: "No, I think we are good."

Doctor: "Okay, then there is one more thing to address. We did find an abnormality in the scan..."

Us: petrified and silent

Doctor: "Now, this is something very minor and does not affect the health or overall well being of your baby, and my colleague and I even disagree if something like this should even be brought up to the parents..."

Us: Still petrified. Still silent. Feeling a little bit more calm after that statement but still FREAKING OUT. Heart POUNDING. Just get to it already, doc!

Doctor: "Jack has a little cyst in his brain called a choroid plexus cyst, or CPC. Now, it really is no cause for concern because Jack is structurally "perfect", even his brain."

Us: Still silent. Feeling more freaked out now that the words "cyst" and "brain" were just spoken by our baby's doctor.

The doctor continued on, explaining CPC. Instead of trying to reiterate a mouthful of medical terms, here is the definition straight from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choroid_plexus_cyst)

"Choroid plexus cysts (CPCs) are cysts that occur within choroid plexus of the brain. The brain contains pockets or spaces called ventricles with a spongy layer of cells and blood vessels called the choroid plexus. This is in the middle of the fetal brain. The choroid plexus has the important function of producing a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid produced by the cells of the choroid plexus fills the ventricles and then flows around the brain and the spinal cord to provide a cushion of fluid around these structures.

CPCs can form within this structure and come from fluid trapped within this spongy layer of cells, much like a soap bubble or a blister. CPCs are often called "soft signs" or fetal ultrasound "markers" because some studies have found a weak association between CPCs and fetal chromosome abnormalities.

It is believed that many adults have one or more tiny CPCs.^[1] CPCs have no impact on an individual's health or development or learning. The fetal brain may create these cysts as a normal part of development. They are temporary and usually are gone by the 32nd week of pregnancy."

From Contemporary OB/GYN (http://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/Isolated-fetal-choroid-plexus-cysts)

"Choroid plexus cysts are present in 30% to 50% of fetuses with trisomy 18. Trisomy 18 is characterized by major structural abnormalities and abnormal sonographic findings.³ When a fetus is affected by trisomy 18, multiple structural anomalies are almost always evident, including structural heart defects, clenched hands, talipes deformity of the feet, growth restriction, and polyhydramnios."

"In the absence of associated sonographic abnormalities, the likelihood of trisomy 18 is extremely low in otherwise low-risk pregnancies. Studies from the 1990s reported that the risk of trisomy 18 with isolated choroid plexus cysts was approximately 1 in 200 to 1 in 400."

So, there you have it. It really is nothing to worry about. The doctor said that because CPC WAS detected, he feels it is his duty to bring it up to us instead of letting it go unmentioned like many doctors today. Today, most sonographers and hospitals don't even mention when a CPC is found with no other markers present. He then went on to offer us a referral to a high risk OB, if we were uncomfortable or wanted reassurance, but he said the sonographer checked all other structural features of Jack, including his hands, feet, nose bone, brain ventricles, heart, bowels, arm and leg bones, arteries, and back of neck, and found no other markers. This is why he recommended we just wait to see if the cyst dissolves at our 28 week scan instead of seeing a high risk OB. After talking with him we decided it really was not a cause for concern, and will just wait to see his brain again at our 28 week scan!

Here are a few photos of our sweet baby Jack!

In other GREAT news, Harrison started walking! Hurray! It was so incredibly exciting and I was able to capture some of his very first footsteps on video so I am SO thrilled. He practices more and more each day and soon we are going to forget how hard it was for him. :)

Here is the video that we will cherish forever!

Movement: Yes! I still feel him every now and then when I'm rocking Harry to sleep but I don't notice any movement any other time. I'm kind of bummed considering my doctor said that because of the position of Jack's placenta I should feel him much earlier than Harry but so far it's about the same as Harry. But as long as I feel something here and there I'm not complaining!

Cravings: No cravings but still not digging broccoli. 

What I Miss: My calves! They are already starting to get bigger which is insane considering I'm not even half way there yet! I will have to do some research on how to keep swelling down. I walk over a mile every day with Harrison but I guess that is not enough!

What am I looking forward to: I was really looking forward to my appointment today, that was the biggest thing. Woo! I am also looking forward to raising our cabinets and adding shelves so I can start painting them! Well, I will paint the doors outside away from fumes and hubby will stay inside and paint the frames and the shelves. I decided on pure white for the wall cabinets and shelves. Hope it looks good!

Milestones: Keeping up with exercising! I am not one to exercise, but I should. The only time I exercise is when I am pregnant because of all of the health benefits for baby and me, and even then it's not every day. THIS time, however, I am walking over a mile, sometimes two, every day in the morning with Harrison. I'm determined to keep up with it and hopefully make it habitual and something that is just necessary, like eating, and not a chore. Walking in the morning with my sweet baby Harry kind of feels like cheating, though, because it is so enjoyable and relaxing. Love it!

How is Daddy? He is great. He has helped out so much (his family too!) with my cousin it's really awesome. He just same old easy going, fun-loving Marcus!

How is Harry? Adorable, a riot, and the light of my life (next to daddy). Harrison recently learned how to blow raspberries on my tummy and shrieks with excitement! Although I end up covered in drool it is too darn cute. I wonder what Jack is thinking? He can hear now, and I just wonder what he thinks of his brothers raspberries and high-pitched squeals. I can't wait for them to meet!!