Concerns Over Microcephaly Diagnosis: MRI Delay Causing Anxiety
I’m a 25-year-old woman, standing at 5’4” and weighing 180 lbs, currently in my 26th week of pregnancy. Recently, I've been grappling with worries surrounding my unborn daughter’s well-being, particularly after receiving worrying ultrasound results. Though I've shared images of the ultrasounds and other relevant reports, my concern rests on whether her head size might just be smaller than average, as my boyfriend has a somewhat angled head shape. It was noted in past ultrasounds that everything appeared normal, but now I'm regretting that I didn’t push for clearer explanations. Since around week 20, she has consistently been positioned against my pelvis with her back toward me. Despite her frequent movements causing me much heartache, I’m clinging to stories of other parents whose babies were initially said to have small head sizes but ended up healthy. I understand that an accurate assessment will depend on the upcoming MRI to determine the brain’s condition. A couple of days ago, I attended an appointment with my maternal-fetal medicine specialist (MFM), and it all felt overwhelming. After reviewing the previous ultrasound reports, I saw that at the 20-week check-up, her head size was recorded at just 3%, yet this was never brought to my attention. The doctor reported that her position hindered a complete anatomy scan, and instructions were given to return in four weeks. When I did return, the measurements showed a concerning decline with her head circumference and biparietal diameter (BPD) both dropping below the 1st percentile, while her weight decreased from the 32nd to the 12th percentile. Although my primary OB reassured me at first, referring me to MFM just to complete the scan, the subsequent meeting with the doctor revealed a diagnosis of microcephaly. Now her head measurements are below the 1st percentile, with a 16% weight comparison. I was also informed that her forehead has a noticeable slope, placing her -3 to -4 standard deviations from the norm. I had a session with the genetic counselor, where blood samples from both my fiancé and I were collected, and the amniocentesis was performed on the same day. I’m currently anxiously awaiting a call for scheduling the MRI. Although the prognosis of microcephaly includes possible developmental challenges, seizures, or even limitations in mobility and speech, I find it terrifying to consider being at this stage, especially since results from the amniocentesis are expected in about three weeks—right when I will be 30 weeks along. There was also a vague mention that the MRI is to assess brain health, but clarity on what will actually be evaluated was lacking, compounded by the next growth scan being scheduled a whole month away. At this moment, I’m consumed with anxiety to the extent that my appetite has vanished, leading to bouts of vomiting—something I know is detrimental for my daughter’s health. So far, tests for infectious diseases like Toxoplasmosis and CMV came back negative, but I still have another two-week wait for genetic test results. The weight of uncertainty is incredibly challenging to bear.
Alice Lee
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