Unloading

[c172]

My baby's autopsy report finally came back... which we've been waiting for since he died in August. 

They confirmed a lot of the stuff they saw on the sonogram: poor brain development, delayed anatomical development, an enlarged and dysfunctional placenta, and some deformities to the face. They were not able to confirm or rule out that he had spina bifida, which was something else they thought they might have seen on the sonogram. 

I have spina bifida. As any of you may or may not know, spina bifida has several forms, and each case requires different services---surgically, vocationally, socially, etc. Some folks with spina bifida die quite early. Maybe 20's even (we have difficult urinary systems and woundcare needs, both of which potentially are life-or-death issues). I, myself, am 40. Karin Muraszko, M.D., is chair of neurosurgery at the University of Michigan Health System and taught CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta when he was a resident there. She is 61 (?) and has spina bifida. 

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/27/health/tur...-muraszko/

Some of us have cognitive impairment. Others don't. Some stand, crutches or not. Others, like Dr. Muraszko, use a wheelchair. 

My SB is attributable to my biological father's involvement with the Vietnam War. He was exposed to Agent Orange. But other SB cases are attributable to an insufficient level of folic acid intake, apparently. So, if you're worried about that, ask your doc about folic acid. 

I wanted to respond more generally to the rest of the OP, but I need to reread it. Either way, good luck with whatever comes next for you. I'm sorry you're dealing with this.

http://spinabifidaassociation.org/expectantparent/