Week 18-Its been a busy week

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.


A few things happened this week. We had the huge ultrasound.  We don't want to know the sex so its still a surprise.  All the measurements looked good. They did find the baby had 2 Choroid Plexus Cysts.

The choroid plexuses are structures in the ventricles (spaces) of the brain that produce the cerebrospinal fluid. Each plexus is made up of a network of capillary blood vessels covered by transporting epithelial cells.


Occasionally fluid becomes trapped and forms pockets in the choroid plexus. These pockets of fluid are called choroid plexus cysts (CPC). Choroid plexus cysts are seen during 1% to 3% of all mid-trimester prenatal ultrasound examinations. The cysts may be seen in one or both sides of the brain, and generally have no effect on fetal development. However, choroid plexus cysts do have a weak association with fetal chromosome abnormalities.

What Causes Choroid Plexus Cysts?
Choroid plexus cysts are believed to be caused by abnormal folding of the epithelium lining of the choroid plexus which traps fluid and debris.

Does it Need Treatment?
More than 90% of choroid plexus cysts resolve spontaneously by 28th weeks' gestation . Once resolved, the cysts do not recur. The finding of isolated choroid plexus cysts is not associated with delayed infant or early childhood development . Rarely very large cysts may cause obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid which may need treatment after the infant is born.

What is the Risk of Chromosomal Abnormality?
Choroid plexus cysts are most strongly associated with trisomy 18 (Edward syndrome). Trisomy 18 (Edward syndrome) is a disorder characterized by severe mental retardation and multiple abnormalities, such as cleft lip and palate, small jaw (micrognathia), low set ears, club feet, clenched fists, intrauterine growth restriction, single umbilical artery, elevated amniotic fluid ( polyhydramnios), and kidney abnormalities. More than 90% of fetuses have a heart defect. The condition is not compatible with life, and only 5% to 10 % of infants survive the first year after delivery.

In the presence of an otherwise normal ultrasound examination the finding of an isolated choroid plexus cyst is not likely to be of any clinical significance. When an isolated choroid plexus cyst is detected on examination the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends amniocentesis is necessary "only if serum screening results are abnormal or the patient is older than 32 years at delivery"

So I am going to go for another ultrasound at 26-28 weeks.  I feel confident they will go away. I had a harmony bloodtest that tested for abnormalities and it came out perfect.  The more I talk about it the more I hear how common it is. Two of my co workers kids had it and my cousin.

I saw my OB yesterday and I have an  abscess on my breast.  It was a pimple that got infected. He put me on antibiotics for 7 days.  He wants me to come back if it doesn't get better.