Hydrocephalus can usually be seen on ultrasound by 19 weeks of pregnancy. Occasionally it is found by routine exams and feeling your uterus. In the past, nothing could be done about hydrocephalus until after delivery. Today, intrauterine therapy treatment while the fetus is still in the uterus can be performed in some cases. In one method, a needle passes through the mother's abdomen into the area of the baby's brain where fluid is collecting.
Some fluid is removed to relieve pressure on the baby's brain.
In another method, a small plastic tube is placed into the area where fluid collects in the baby's brain. This tube is left in place to drain fluid continuously. Hydrocephalus is a high-risk problem. These procedures are highly specialized and should be performed only by someone experienced in the latest techniques. This requires consultation with a perinatologist specializing in high-risk pregnancies.