Post # 1

Member
195 posts
Blushing bee
At my 11 week appt, I had an ultrasound and my doc saw a “line” that she says COULD be an amniotic band. She said it could also be remnants from when I was spotting a few weeks back. I have another appt in a week and a half. When I got home I barely looked up what an amnitoic band was. I say barely because what I read scared the crap out of me.
Does anyone know anything about this?
Post # 3

Member
1052 posts
Bumble bee
I can see that no one has commented on this thread so I’ll do my best to explain my understanding. I have never had personal experience with amniotic band syndrome since I’ve never been pregnant but I have worked/volunteered in hospitals and labratories and have seen the condition before. Your best source of information is your doctor who should be able to answer all your questions better than I ever could since I don’t know your medical specifics.
THE GOOD NEWS FIRST: This condition is VERY often MISDIAGNOSED. It’s very difficult to see what’s going on in an ultrasound, especially at 11 weeks and a line on the ultrasound could be anything. True cases of ABS are really rare and its more likely that whatever they saw is one of a million different harmless
A Basic Scientific Explination: I believe that amniotic bands are usually from a rupture in the amnion that leaves the corion intact. When this happens, there are usually strands of tissue left over from the rupture. The extra strands of tissue may end up floating in the amniotic sac and can become tangled around part of the fetus. When this happens the fetus can sometimes end up with deformities because the bands do not stretch as the fetus grows. Even if there are amniotic bands present, they DO NOT always become tangled around the fetus and can sometimes just float harmlessly. Usually, this condition is correctly diagnosed when your doctor sees the effects of the amnitioc band, not the band itself. There is other evidence that suggests the problem may be due to defective blood supply since the condition is often comorbid with cleft pallete deformities. The condition is also believed to be responsible for some miscarriages.
Good luck, i hope this helps.