Causes of ACC

[janinemommy]

Our doctor told us we would probably never know why our son has ACC - that it happens within the first 6 weeks of pregnancy. But things I am reading say different (i.e. I saw something about trauma to the mother during pregnancy, fetal acohol syndrome, etc.). I am just wondering if anyone has any info on this......

[Bonnie]

I wish I knew more about the causes too. I keep wondering if it is something I did (when I tried to do everything right. But from what I've read... it is just one of those things that happens. It doesnt make me feel any better though.

[momtoson]

I've read about fetal alcohol syndrome as being one of the main causes but in my case that couldn't be it because I never drank before or during the time I was pregnant. What I am interested in knowing, however, is how the father's previous behavior may have affected the sperm, if at all. My son's father (ex) used drugs for awhile some years before I got pregnant. He cleaned up his act entirely since before my pregnancy but I always wonder if that couldve had something to do with it. They never mention that possibility anywhere.

[janinemommy]

I guess I wonder because I fell when I was pregnant with my son, but the dr says no, but I am reading other things online....
Thanks for your responses!
:D

[emmad]

I have only done a bit of research into this (as like everyone I suppose I am looking for answers).... I think it is caused by an infection that Mum contracts between 5 & 15 weeks of pregnancy can be caused by a number of things and one of them being fetal alcohol syndrome - having looked into this further you have to be some kind of major drinker to pass this on....

I think the upshot is that none of us will probably ever know why it happened and you can torment youselves about it (like I sometimes do) but these things just happen. As someone said to me on Wednesday " Special people have special children"...so I am going to stick to that :-)

[slkbb03]

I am new to all of this, but I wonder if I could have done something to prevent it. I wonder if my husband having spent time in Iraq, could have caused this. I know I will never know the cause, but it still makes me feel like I should have done something to prevent it. Would it change things? No, but I want to know for my own sake. I am glad to know I am not the only one who feels this way.

Mom to Buttercup
Diag. 2/10/06

[jenboo2000]

I took Cipro when I was 5 weeks pregnant, prior to my knowledge of being pregnant. I never drank, so I am wondering what others thought. Thanks!

[AuntMaymeMommy]

I'm a diabetic. I've always wondered if that had any thing to do with it. My blood sugars were on the high side before I found out I was pregnant.

[fiddler]

We had our son's DNA tested for genetic disorders resulting in ACC and didn't find anything. We were told that the corpus callosum develops around day 70 in pregnancy, and for some reason, the signals which should have told our son's brain cells to specialize and form this organ didn't happen. No one has been able to tell us why, and I think it is unlikely they will be able to in the future.

We had the option of getting MRI's of ourselves, if we could pay for it (which we can't), and told that if either of us had callosal abnormalities it would merit further testing. As we're pretty normal in the coordination and communication departments (we're both musicians, so the fine motor skills and social skills are pretty high), we think we're probably normal callosum-wise...

It's hard not to be bitter sometimes. My husband says "we won the lottery!" Sometimes these things happen. My doctors have been quite firm about nothing "I did" during pregnancy having any impact on Tyler's condition, and that helps. The fetal alcohol complications apparently require a lot of alcohol.

Emily, mom of Tyler, age 4 (5 at the end of this month)

[Toolz]

I havent read anything about the causes but i have been told by doctors that it wasnt anything i did but that doesnt stop the guilty feelings.

[susan]

I realized that there is no point trying to find how it happened but to foccus on what you can do about it. Early intervention is the best thing to do right now. I contacted a gov't. program that is called Birth to 3 that does any type of PT that the child needs in the home. I also am going to try Cranial Sacral Theropy. I have a spot on the message board under Parents with Children with ACC.

My advice is to foccus on what your childs can do and to live one day at a time. If you look to far into the future or in the past you will just get depressed and miss out on the things that your child can do.

Take Care All

Susan

[AliTolley]

I was given an internal examination around 13 wks-i was having problems keeping food+drink down. ACC can be caused by damage to the fetus. Unlike most examinations performed i wasn't laying down, i was asked to sit in a chair(similar to one you would find at an opictions) and to place my legs in stirrups-most uncomfortable to say the least.
Whether of not the examination i received caused damage to my child i do not know.
We've had Chloes genes looked at and apparently she has NO chromosomes missing-NO extra chromosomes-NO broken chromosomes. ALL chromosomes look as they should.
We didn't know about Chloes condition until she was 3 mths old. I had numerous scans but her brain abnormality was not picked up on.
Has anyone had a similar experience.
Ali + Chloe[attachment=1]DSC00837.none[/attachment][attachment=0]DSC01283.none[/attachment]

[eclipse8787]

My son's HCC was caused by a defect passed on via one of my X chromosomes. They initially tested me for genetic problems which all came back negative. There was a brand new test called MICRO ARRAY which located a small issue associated with my x chromosome. At my last appointment, they had identified 12 other children with CC problems who shared the same defect. I'm sure they've identified more since that was months ago.

I had the same intense feelings guilt as the rest. I had a few drinks before I knew I was pregnant (week 3-4). I was taking anti-depressants (Effexor) during pregnancy. I'm sure my diet had much room for improvement. I blamed myself, but my mind was eased by the test results.

Just throwing this info out there. Ask for the "Micro Array" genetics test. I'm in Canada. My samples had to be tested in the USA.