Slyvia, An ultrasound scan is not 100% accurate as we all know. Ultrasounds can fail to pick up significant abnornalities or suggest a problem when one is not there. Our family were thrown in total chaos and confussion when my 4th nephew was diagnosed with a possiblity of hydrocephalus on the 20 week ultrasound. My sister was extremely upset and distressed. A follow up ultrasound at a another hospital (major referral hospital for the state) determined that the baby did not have a hydrocepalus. All that unnecessary stress, fear and worry. He is a healthy, active and beautiful child.
I would suggest respecting your sister's choices and support her in whatever she decides. By all means make suggestions, but try not push her in any direction. Afterall, she is dealing with an unexpected result the best way she knows how too. Maybe what you see as denial is a quiet strength that everything is ok with her baby. Perhaps, she is right, that despite the fear she still intuitively knows her baby is alright. Maybe, she is in shock about the result and needs some time before she can make any decisions. However, declining investigations and treatment is your SIL making decisions, but it would help her decision making if she where aware of what are the benefits, the risk, the options and deciding to do nothing are in regard to the investigations and/or treatment. You could ask your SIL if it's ok if you read the scan result , discover if the ultrasound was reviewed by a senior radiologist, and what about a second opinion, talk to a neonatologists or paediatrician, do some research, what is the significance of this finding, if any? Would your SIL if asked, want to know of any suspected abnormalities on ultrasound before it was done? Something that we probably all need to think about asking women when discussing having the 18 - 20 week ultrasound. I hope this helps you during this difficult time kathy ----- Original Message ----- From: "leanne wynne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 10:49 AM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] RE: antenatal question > Sylvia, > My initial gut feeling is that your sister-in-law is right to believe that > nothing is wrong. So often I have seen terrible fear dumped on women > unecessarily due to some anomaly on an ultrasound scan ... especially if the > measurement was done 5 times and only once was it slightly abnormal?? > If I was her midwife I would need to read the actual ultrasound report in > order to do some research on the woman's behalf to try and get some accurate > information for her. > An amniocentesis will only pick-up genetic problems, not morphologic > abnormalities. It also carries a 1-2% risk of causing a miscarriage of > possibly / probably a perfectly normal foetus. > I'm not sure if this helps at all. > All the best, > Leanne. > > >From: "Sylvia Boutsalis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subject: [ozmidwifery] RE: antenatal question > >Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 07:34:07 +0930 > > > > > >Hi all, > > > >I'm needing a bit of information if you are able to help me. My sister > >in law just came home from a 20 week scan. The Gyno told her that there > >was some space in the baby's brain. He measured the distance from the > >skull to the inner membrane(??) 5 times and only once did the meaurement > >come up a percentage difference from the normal. They were strongly > >advised to have an amnio but they turned it down because they will not > >abort under any circumstance. They then advised her to go again for > >another scan in 2 weeks. She turned that down too, as she doesn't want > >to know (she's in denial as she thinks everything is fine). I'm thinking > >the scan is a good way of determining whether this 'space' is growing > >along with the baby. As a childbirth Educator I couldn't answer any of > >their quesitons. Can anyone shed some light onto this? Sorry this > >information is sketchy, but they were too stressed to take in any decent > >information. > > > >Thanks in advance > >Sylvia Boutsalis > >Childbirth Educator > >Infant Massage Instructor > >Adelaide > > > >-- > >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > > > >-- > >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > Leanne Wynne > Midwife in charge of "Women's Business" > Mildura Aboriginal Health Service Mob 0418 371862 > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
