Choroid Plexus Cysts- My Story

I was 19 weeks pregnant into a very healthy pregnancy when I had a routine ultrasound. The morning of the scan, I excitedly awaited my appointment, secretly hoping to find out that the child would be a boy. Our two girls were hoping for a sister, but all we really wanted was a healthy addition to our family. It never occurred to me that there was a possibility of a problem. I ate well, drank my water, and drank my nutrient packed pregnancy tea daily.

The scan was exciting! With our daughters in the room, Mike and I found out that our next child would be a boy! The rest of the scan seemed pretty routine, the tech stopping to take measurements, snap pictures and print out a few images for our baby book.

Once the ultrasound was over, however, I went to see my doctor for a routine prenatal exam. He said "Everything on the ultrasound looked fine except for these two cysts on the baby's brain." I stood staring at him in horror as he went on to tell me more. "It's called a Choroid Plexus Cyst and it will probably go away within a few weeks. Seeing this on the ultrasound means your baby has an increased risk of having Trisomy 18. We'll arrange a more thorough level 2 ultrasound scan downtown at the hospital in a few weeks to check for more signs of Trisomy 18"

I was so shocked that I could barely speak! What does this mean? Is my baby sick? How will I function the next few weeks while I wait for my next scan? I was absolutely without a doubt terrified.

So, what does a pregnant woman do when she is told of a possible problem with her unborn? Two things-worry and google. I spent hours on the internet. I read success stories and horror stories. For two weeks I logged on every chance I got, hoping to find something that would tell me that without a doubt, everything would be fine. To my frustration, I found nothing that would promise a healthy baby, but I did find lots of information that told me the vast majority of babies with a choroid plexus cyst were born healthy and normal.

When the day came for my level 2 ultrasound, I packed up my toddler daughter and nervously drove downtown to the hospital. I was so nervous I barely made it on time, nearly getting lost several times on my way, all the while worrying about the babe growing inside me.

When the nurse came to the waiting room and called my name, I nervously and quickly gathered my now shoeless, one socked two year old and her bag of toys. After getting her settled on a chair in the corner of the ultrasound, I said a prayer as I laid myself down on the ultrasound table.

Within a few minutes, I could breathe a sigh of relief. The technician told me that there were no cysts present! My baby boy was healthy! I felt a little silly for needlessly worrying, but I was overwhelmed with joy as I walked out of the hospital and called my husband, mother and a few friends to share the news.

If you are experiencing the worry and wait of a choroid plexus cyst, please read my article Choroid Plexus Cyst- What You Need To Know