SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Blog

At a routine ultrasound, one couple found out their baby had pleural effusions – fluid around her lungs.

When she was 21 weeks pregnant, Theresa was diagnosed with severe TTTS, and surgery was needed immediately.

“We received a phone call from my OB/GYN's office. They said, 'There is something on or around your daughter's neck. You need to come in to have another ultrasound done.' Right then and there everything changed,” says Mattie.

“They thought it might be gastrochsisis or omphalocele because he had a distended abdomen. Then, another doctor thought it could an enlarged bladder,” she says.

“When my doctor came to discuss the results we were blown away. He told me that Wyatt's heart was shifted and what appeared to be a mass in his lungs was pushing on the baby's heart,” recalls Hilary.

“When my doctor gave me the diagnosis I was upset and scared. I just didn’t know what to expect,” says Emily, who was referred to FCI when she was 20 weeks pregnant.