Pregnancy is a beautiful yet complicated phase for every woman. While the little kick in your tummy gives you happiness, this phase might also welcome you with many pregnancy symptoms, including nausea, swelling, or high blood pressure, which are very common. Sometimes, you might also have some rare complications like Mirror Syndrome during pregnancy.
Mirror syndrome is a rare complication that makes life miserable and threatening to both the mother and the baby. It is curable, but the early you detect and the early treatment give a better result. In this article, let us discuss mirror syndrome, the causes, signs, symptoms, complications, diagnosis, and treatment options.
In This Article
- What is Mirror Syndrome?
- What Are the Causes of Mirror Syndrome During Pregnancy?
- Signs and Symptoms of Mirror Syndrome
- Complications of Mirror Syndrome During Pregnancy
- Diagnosis of Mirror Syndrome During Pregnancy
- What Are the Treatment Options For Mirror Syndrome?
- FAQ’s
What is Mirror Syndrome?
Mirror Syndrome or Ballantyne Syndrome is a combination of two other complications – Pre-eclampsia and hydrops.
Pre-eclampsia refers to high blood pressure or hypertension in pregnant women.
Hydrops is a condition where there is an abnormal fluid accumulation in different parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, or skin. Hydrops is also commonly known as edema, fetal mirror syndrome, or maternal mirror syndrome when referring to fetal or pregnant women. The hydrops gets its name because the fluid accumulation in the mother is mirrored in the fetus.
In rare situations, the fluid gets accumulated in the cavity and beneath the skin of the mother and the fetus along with the placenta. This situation is called Triple edema as it covers three places. Though it is a rare condition, it is severe and life-threatening to the mother and the little one.
What Are the Causes of Mirror Syndrome During Pregnancy?
Looking at what causes this rare condition, there are no concrete and exact data about it due to its rare occurrence. However, the following are some of the reasons that causes Mirror syndrome.
- Immunological Disorders
- General Obstetric Disorders
- Anemia
- Infection
- Malformations
- Fetal Hydrops
Of the above, the primary reason for Mirror syndrome during pregnancy is Fetal Hydrops. It is a condition where the fluid leaves the fetus’s bloodstream and accumulates beneath the skin tissues of the fetus.
It is commonly found in fetuses where the normal fluid regulation is complicated. If a woman is pregnant with twins, the fetus hydrops occurs due to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Signs and Symptoms of Mirror Syndrome
Early detection and timely treatment are essential for a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery. The following are some of the significant symptoms of Mirror Syndrome.
- Water Retention
- Severe Swelling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Excessive weight gain during pregnancy
- Hypertension
- Blood Tension
- Protein in urine
- Hemodilution
*Hemodilution is when the plasma level is high in the blood, and the amount of red blood cells is lower. It occurs when there is an increase in fluid level. A blood test can diagnose this.
Complications of Mirror Syndrome During Pregnancy
Mirror Syndrome is a severe condition that can be life-threatening to both the mother and the fetus.
- It can lead to pre-eclampsia, which is experienced during pregnancy and affects the lungs’ fluids.
- Mirror Syndrome might lead to the death of the fetus if the pregnant woman faces a ruptured or obstructed bladder.
- In some instances, some women might require an emergency C-section.
Diagnosis of Mirror Syndrome During Pregnancy
Timely diagnosis is the key to resolving mirror syndrome. There are no specific tests that can reveal the existence of mirror syndrome, and however, few other tests might give a lead to what it could be.
- Ultrasound results can help detect the excess fluid accumulation in the fetus or placenta.
- Blood tests and urine tests can help the doctors detect the protein in the urine, high blood pressure, and other abnormalities.
- Tests conducted for the well-being of both the mother and the fetus and other symptoms reported by pregnant women can also be valuable for identifying mirror syndrome.
[Read : Polyhydramnios- Excessive Amniotic Fluid During Pregnancy]
What Are The Treatment Options For Mirror Syndrome?
The treatment for Mirror Syndrome depends from patient to patient based on the health conditions, causes, and the intensity of the illness. Identifying the cause and providing the proper treatment helps avoid the symptoms of Mirror syndrome for both the mother and the fetus.
Treating Hydrops
If the mirror syndrome happens due to hydrops in the womb, treating the baby in the womb can clear up the symptoms for the mother. This may result in normal pregnancy and expected delivery.
The treatment for fetal hydrops depends on the underlying cause. The primary treatment might include
- Medicines for cardiac arrhythmia
- Transfusions for anemia
- Reduction of lesions
- Procedures to stop blood loss
Depending on the fetus’s gestational age, doctors recommend an emergency delivery. But, that might not be an immediate solution.
Treating Preeclampsia
If the Pre-eclampsia is severe, doctors may recommend an emergency delivery. This ensures the mother relieves the mirror syndrome. The baby gets to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Here the baby receives the treatment to cure hydrops and the underlying causes.
The mother would advise being under complete bed rest and administered medicines to reduce hypertension and edema in some instances. Each case of mirror syndrome is different in terms of intensity, and the treatment plan may vary from case to case. The best treatment would be early detection of the illness to control the fetus’s hydrops before it creates hefty damage.
Treating Unknown Causes
Sometimes, the doctors fail to diagnose the cause of fetal hydrops. Providing treatment for mirror syndrome during pregnancy becomes difficult without knowing the underlying cause. The doctors might take various other tests, including ultrasound, to identify and confirm the mirror syndrome to identify the appropriate treatment.
During pregnancy, every little change in the body gives a heart-wrenching feel to the mothers. Sometimes, the pregnant mothers might feel like over-reacting to the situation. But, to be mothers also must rely on their gut feeling. Complications such as mirror syndrome during pregnancy need timely detection and treatment.
If you are a pregnant mother and experiencing any unusual or abnormal symptoms, report it immediately to the doctor. This will allow for in-timely medical intervention and happy and safe pregnancy.
[Read : Fetal Anemia During Pregnancy]
FAQ’s
1. Is Hydrops Curable?
During pregnancy, fetal hydrops is curable only in situations when the doctor is able to identify the cause for concern and initiate the treatment.
2. How Is Hydrops Diagnosed?
A prenatal Ultrasound helps to diagnose Hydrops. A doctor diagnoses hydrops if he finds any excess fluid in at least two fetal body spaces. If the doctor finds fluid accumulation only in one place, then the doctor may not able to make an appropriate diagnosis.
3. Why Do Babies Get Hydrops?
The babies may develop hydrops because of the Rh disease of the mother. If the mother is Rh-negative and your baby has Rh-positive, then the mother’s immune system begins to attack the baby’s red blood cells. This, in turn, causes Anemia. If the baby’s developing organs find it challenging to overcome the anemia, it may result in Hydrops.
4. Can Hydrops Be Misdiagnosed?
Yes. Hydrops can be misdiagnosed as pre-eclampsia.
5. When Can Hydrops Be Detected?
The Doctor detects the hydrops due to chromosomal abnormalities during early pregnancy, While the hydrops due to cardiac identification happens in the second and third trimester.
Read Also: Rh Incompatibility in Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
