Tissue testing

ladaisy · 05-17-2008, 01:45 AM

I just wanted to share some news with all of you that I just found out a couple of days ago. You have all been so supportive as I have gone through the loss of my baby this year. I know I don't post here much, but when I do, I have found such amazing support. And I thank-you all for that.

Just to summarize, I lost my baby at 10 weeks (the baby only measured 6 weeks) and I had a d&c the day after they saw there was no longer a heartbeat. Well I had the tissue sent out for analysis. I just got the results a couple of days ago and I wanted to share this with you. It turns out that my baby had a full trisomy 16. Meaning that my baby had an extra chromosome 16 in all cells that they tested. And this is not compatible with life. Which is why the development stopped. Apparently this is one of the most common reasons for early miscarriage. Also....and this is where I start to tear up....I found out that my baby was a boy! I was going to have a son! I don't know how to explain this, but when I got the piece of paper with this information, as I was waiting for my doctor to come into the room, I just had an overwhelming peace come over me. And the funny thing is, that I really always wanted a little girl. And now I know what people mean when they say it doesn't matter whether it is a boy or a girl..... I really didn't get it until now! When I saw the report say that I was having a boy, I just melted. I said a little prayer in which now i could say goodbye. It is not that I cared any less when I lost the baby. It was heartbreaking. But like I said, I can't explain it, but I just connected a little more now. Just knowing... My heart still hurts. I still wish I could be carrying my little boy. But it was not meant to be. And there was nothing that I could do about it.

The part that makes me a little worried still, is that the report also said that i may be at an increased risk to have future miscarriages with this problem (extra chromosome 16). Is there anyone that would have any information that would help me about this? The report said I was at an increased risk, but when I look this up on the internet, I find sites that say this is a really common reason for early miscarriage and there is no reason to worry that this will increase future risk of loss.

Anyway, thanks for listening and being here for me. I couldn't have gotten through this alone.

R&J · 05-17-2008, 05:23 AM

I also had a miscarriage in 2004. We saw the heartbeat and everything was fine. When we went in for our final ultrasound with our R/E there was no heartbeat. I was 10 weeks pregnant. The baby had died a few days previously because we saw a hearbeat a week prior. I had a D&C the following day and we also sent the tissue in. We found out she was a girl with an extra Y chromosome and she had what they call Turner's Syndrome. We also read that I was at risk for having future miscarriages. I talked to the genetic counselor and my R/E and they both told us that it is very rare to have another chromosomal issue and if for some reason I did have another child with a chromsomal problem then I would more than likely miscarry any child with chromosomal problems. I hope this makes sense. Most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal problems. I think most people don't test like those of us with fertility issues. Can I also add that 6 months later I got pregnant again and I now have beautiful and healthy 3 year old. I do still think about the first baby a lot. I don't ever want to forget anything I went through with her because she served a purpose in our lives. I hope all of this helps. Take care!

Dagmar · 05-17-2008, 07:00 PM

Hi Ladaisy,

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't help you with info, I'm afraid, but I know what you mean about knowing whether your baby was a boy or girl. When I brought the second of my twins home, I could tell he was a boy. This was very painful, because it is something that brings you a little closer to the baby you never knew.