I was on this forum in a complete state in January when at 29 weeks pregnant a scan found severe pleural effusions and fluid under baby's scalp plus too much amniotic fluid in my womb - hydrops. I just wanted to return to say it CAN be OK.

I was beyond terrified at the time. I was treated in London by leading doctors who drained some of the fluid away and tried to put in a pleuroamniotic shunt, but this didn't work. Still, premature labour was staved off for 3 weeks. I went into sudden labour at 32+0 weeks, I think because the polyhydramnious returned over a weekend. Anyway, our son was born very ill but the hydrops just melted away from him with diuretics after he was born. Gradually the hydrops disappeared over his first two or three weeks.

Tests eventually showed he has a genetic condition called Noonan's Syndrome, which caused the hydrops, but he has it very mildly and is doing really well. His lungs were a bit weak because of the effusions and he had to be on oxygen for longer than a prem baby of 32 weeks usually is, but he came off it eventually. He was in hospital for his first five months and finally came home in June and has been doing so well ever since. Now almost 7 months corrected (9 months since birth), he is a real joy - strong, adrable, bright, determined, a little angel. Everyone who sees him loves him!

I hope this gives hope to anyone else who is feeling as scared as I was. If anyone wants to chat to me by email, I'd be happy to.