Situs Inversus

I have heard of it but don't know much about it other than it really doesn't make a difference in a healthy life. Do some searching online. You can probably find lots of information and support out there.

A brother of a good friend of mine just had a daughter born that way... as far as I know, everything is ok with her, but I will contact my friend and see what she knows about it and I will email you with the info

C.

Hello S.-
My husband has this, and I have to tell you, I was terrified for my 20 week ultrasound with our DD. All was well with her, but the maternal fetal medicine doctor told me there was nothing to be frightened about if she had had it. My hubby has no ill effects from this, he even has ran 3-1/2 marathons,7 5K's and is signing up for a marathon in November! He also ran cross country in high school. So even at a younger age there was no problems. I completly understand your fears, but just remember God made us all special and he loves us very much (sorry, we are Veggietales fans around here!) God Bless you and hugs for a safe second 1/2 of your pregnancy!

a girlfriend of mine had a beautiful baby girl with the exact same issue and she is now almost 6 months old and absolutly, perfecty, healthy. she is thriving and growing and developing like any other baby with their organs on the right side. check webmd for info, that website always has great articles and answers to my medical queries. good luck with the new baby!!!

Hi S.,
First of all,let me start by telling you that I have situs inversus complete. I am 28 and live a healthy life which included/includes all the things I have wanted to do and will do. I played sports growing up, I look just like everyone else, I developed at the same rate and stages every other "normal" person did/does. You would never know I had this condition unless I told you. I am currently pregnancy with my second baby (so reproduction is normal haha) and I have no other health concerns to worry about than the average person.
Second, fortunately the nurse you told that she thought it is was only bad if the heart was on the wrong side is incorrect. My heart is on the right hand side and works just like yours/his and hers etc (all my internal oragans are reversed and facing backwards, I am mirror image of you). She also stated that there are surgeries to correct this condition, wrong again, but this doesnt matter because surgery is not needed. So do not worry about that.
Third, you are right there is little information out there about this very rare condition (.o1% of the known population). I was born in 1980 and my mother did not get any ultrasounds so they actually did not know I had situs inversus until I was 6 and had an accident in gymnastics that required x-rays. In 1986 there were even fewer cases and the doctors were just as alarmed at what they had discovered in my body as my parents (which trust did not help anyone). I was taken to the cleveland clinic, had a specialist fly in from boston immediately, two doctors from South Africa and one from Europe. Can you believe it, all that fuss to find out that there is little to know studies done on how this happens or what the out come will be (in 1986). Now today of course is some, not much more but some information out there, I actively keep up with current studies and have spoken to many of the doctors running them and have also made a little money off it haha, I always wanted to be a model just never thought I would model my organs. Anyways, the current (for the last 5 years)belief is that both parents are carriers of this genetic trait and one out four of their children will have situs inversus. Neither of my parents have this condition, nor does anyone else in our family that we are aware of but like I said you just have to be a carrier as of right now to pass this along. When I was little there were so many theories but the doctors seem confident with this new one. Overall please rest assure that your child will have a healthy normal life which will include everything you ever dreamed of for him or her, like I said I played sports (softball, basketball, cheerleader, gymnast, ice skating) I did it all. I am having babies, I am healthy, I have not one heart problem or any other internal oragan problem I am NORMAL just like everyone else, I just have a really cool story to tell everyone and the doctors love me! Please message me if you like to talk more about this, I can give you my phone number in a private message and if you would like to talk I would be more than willing to do so. Good luck and please only take advice from those of us who have this rare and neat condition and your doctor rather than those who have only heard about it.

Now that you know the doctor was wrong, I would confront the doctor at your next visit. Find out how he could have been so wrong. Then evaluate his answer. See if it hellps you any. You need to have confidence in your doctor when you are pregnant, and maybe there is a reasonable explanation as to why they got things backwards. Good luck to you!
R.

I went to school with a girl who has this. Through school she was as normal as the rest of us were =). We have lost contact since but she never had any health issues any more than the rest of us did.
Good luck!
SZ

I am sorry to hear about this condition. Maybe I can give you some hope. I was born with a birth defect similar, called gastroschesis, where the abdomen is compeletly open and all of the organs are exposed. After I was delivered I underwent emergency surgery to put me back together. I had 6 surgeries in 6 months to correct any complications. I developed normally my only "defect" is I now have a large scar on my abdomen. There was no long term damage. When I got pregnant with my son, I had a lot of concerns that it may be genetic and my son could also be born with a birth defect, he assured me that it is just something that happens. I saw a special on Discovery Health showing babies born with these defect and the surgery was quick leaving a minimal scar. I hope this eases your worries a little. Best of luck, S.

I don't know anything specific about "situs inversus", but I know I was a born with a genetic blip where I only had one functioning kidney. It has never been an issue for me and my body actually compensated and developed a larger functioning kidney. I also learned that there are many people walking around right now that have the same genetic blip and don't even know it. Our bodies are amazing creations and if your baby has gotten this far, I would just trust that it will continue to develop into a beautiful healthy baby.

While studying acupressure/Chinese medicine we take the energy pulses on each radial pulse which corresond to different organ systems in the body--at a workshop once I was partnered with a woman who had this condition--so she told me to take the opposite pulses. She said that she had never had any problems from this condition other than as other Moms have already said --make sure it is noted any time she needs medical care(and it does not matter what is in her records you have to say something each time--my youngest is allergic to penicillin, you'd think that would be in big letters in her medical records but I had to remind them any time she needed antibiotics! Most likely she will be just fine!

I don't put a lot of faith into ultrasounds because I know people that were told their babies had defects and should consider termination and those babies turned out perfectly healthy. I myself had several u/s's due to a prior miscarriage and everything was always normal - but my poor little guy was born with a soft cleft palate (an opening in his soft palate) and it went undetected. I sure wasn't expecting that after everything looking just perfect.

I would try and go with the doctor on this one until you know otherwise. I am sure this is a super scary time. From what I remember in nursing school, as long as the heart isn't backwards then it's not such a big deal, just something to remind doctors of in the first place (ie if surgery is every needed - it would be shocking to not find something where it was expected to be...). If the heart is reveresed, that is more serious but I know they do surgery (I believe in a series of operations) to correct it. I also wouldn't spend too much time on google until you know anything positive!
Good luck, and we'll be praying for you

I have heard of this on TV once and the people are completely normal! Just reversed. The only thing different your kid will have to do is if they sing the Pledge of Allegiance in school she will have to cover her heart with her left hand!! Ha. :)
I wouldn't worry as long as they grow up healthy.
Good Luck.

my aunt has this and she is a very health, normal woman ;} she has 4 kids and a wonderful husband!
i asked her about it once, she said its nothing to worry about. she has funny stories about doctor visits though.

I have a friend that is that way and she is a healthy 30 year old. everything is just reversed. no big deal at all.

I've seen and heard of this on CSI, yet we found out it was a true story. People who end up with this rare condition sometimes has more advantages than those who were born the right way...I guess you'd have to say. It is very safe and healthy...its like the norm of us all, just the opposite sides. The only thing you need to make sure is if the baby ever needs surgery to make sure that the doctors know that. Also keep records as well. Some guy was shot in the chest (where the heart would be) found out that his heart wasn't there, so it saved his life! Its cool, crazy..yet I'd be scared as well..if I were in your situation, due to the fact that its different and rare. Just remember that you have a very special little one. Congrats and Good Luck!

I can't tell you about this in particular, but I wanted to give you some light at the end of the tunnel. At my first "real" ultrasound with my 2nd child, they told me my daughter had something called CCAM. Without going into the details of that illness, I had to have ultrasounds every week of my pregnancy from 5mo on. I also faced the possibility of having surgery on her while in my belly. I would have had to go to a different state to have it done! The entire NICU team was in the delivery room when I had her, and scooped her away. I didn't get to hold her until 3 days later. She spent the first week of her life in the NICU. It turned out not to be CCAM, but a pulmonary sequestration. She is a happy, healthy, wonderful 7yr old now with no sign of the sequestration. I have taken her to the specialist twice for checkups since, and they can't even find it anymore! Of my 3, she is the only girl. I always tell her that since time of conception she has given me a run for my money! (She's the one I have to watch like a hawk!) The doctors are always going to err on the side of caution. They want to make sure that if there are problems, they are prepared. The good news is, if they do frequent ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy, you get to watch your girl grow! Good Luck!

Hi S.,

I can see how this would be a concern for you. While I am no expert and have not heard of this before, I just want to send you my love and prayers! (((((HUGS))))

I have actually heard of this..its where the babys intestines are on the outside of the stomach through a small hole usually around the belly button ...it is fixed with simple surgery just after birth sometimes no surgery is needed only putting everything back where it belongs and stitching it up...try not to get too overwhelmed this usually is not anything that causes harm..

My husband had a relative that had this 'condition' and it saved his life. He was shot in a war (can't remember which one) and it should have gone right through his heart. Since it was on the opposite side, he lived. Don't worry about it. God made all of us different for a reason. You're baby will be beautiful, healthy and strong.

I am in the medical profession, but not a doctor. I am in medical imaging. I have seen this several times during the course of my profession. I have never encountered a patient that this has caused problems for. The body still works the same way, the organs are just on the opposite side. We are always excited when we see a patient with this diagnosis.

The important thing is to always keep it in the back of your mind as your child grows and encounters typical illnesses. Such as, appendicitis. Usually someone with appendicitis will complain of fever and pain on the lower right side, for your child.........it would be left sided pain. I know that it is easy to say not to worry about it when it isn't your own child. But again, I have never seen a patient that had medical problems due to it.