In this thread, I talked about a potential problem with our unborn baby. At the time we were told it was likely hydrocephalus.
My wife is in the hospital now for several days of testing. Several specialists have done various ultrasounds and originally we were told that they would know by Friday (tomorrow for us in the Land of the Rising Sun). Unfortunately, this will likely be delayed.
When I got to the hospital after work last night, a brain specialist was conducting an ultrasound exam of TokyoBaby’s head. Us laypeople could only watch while he ran the ultrasound back and forth. The baby’s head mostly looked hollow, with small growths from where I remember the brain stem being. Not knowing normal brain development, I shut up and let him concentrate.
An intern came by, a young lady who looked half my age. (And since I’m 44, she could very well be 60% of my age – damn, I’m getting old.) Asking permission (from the specialist) to sit in, she pulled up a chair while the experience doctor then gave her an anatomy lesson on babies with brain problems.
From his quiet comments to her, we learned that TokyoBaby’s cerebellum is too small, which “isn’t good.” Our regular doctor did say there is something wrong with the brain, but unfortunately, neither she nor the specialist will give us any idea of what that means.
They’re going to perform an MRI exam, since that procedure will tell more than the ultrasound. Until then they don’t want to discuss it. It doesn’t look like the MRI was available today or tomorrow; it will likely be next week at the earliest.
It looks like we will still need to wait. **TokyoWife ** and I deeply appreciate all the people who gave their support and to the wonderful people who answered my questions concerning hydrocephalus.
I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this. My co-worker recently went through something similar with her brother and sister-in-law, so I know how difficult this waiting game can be for everyone. You’re in my thoughts.
It’s so hard to wait, isn’t it, and to try to gather information without panicking…I’m sorry to hear of the worry you are going through. You and your little one are in my thoughts.
It looks like they want to wait for the MRI until August so our doctors will talk to us this afternoon. TokyoWife is handling it really well. Maybe better than I am. I think you have ups and downs and this is a down period for me.
It’s hard to concentrate at work and to not let little things get me irritated. I had to remind myself that the guy on the train wasn’t being any pushier today than what everyone is everyday. It’s just that I’ve got just a little less patience with the world, and I need to step back and take a bigger breath.
Yesterday they told us there is a possibility that she may have to be in bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. She’s in her 27th week now, so there’s a long time left. She not tenured yet, so she could lose her classes if she’s out for the whole semester. Her and the baby’s health is most important, but additional worries was not what we really wanted now.
