Just a few days after Chip and Joanna Gaines announced to the world that they’re expecting their fifth child, medical experts say the couple may have cause for serious concern when it comes to the baby.
This concern centers around an ultrasound photo Joanna shared on Tuesday of her unborn baby.
On January 2, Chip confirmed the exciting news of a fifth bundle of joy on the way for him and his wife, as the Fixer Upper star shared an adorable picture (below) and wrote as a caption:
“Gaines party of 7.. (If you’re still confused.. WE ARE PREGNANT) @joannagaines.”
The HGTV stars are parents to four children: Drake, 12, Ella, 11, Duke, 9, and Emmie Kay, 7.
They’ll feature the kids occasionally on their wildly popular home renovation show, but only in snippets; only to show everyone gathered at home for some ice cream or something.
At various times last year, Chip made comments that hinted he and Joanna were trying (or thinking about trying) for another boy or girl.
As a follow-up to her husband’s cute news-breaking photo and message, Joanna posted a picture of her ultrasound, writing along with it:
“Chip swears he can already tell it’s a boy. Look at the little heartbeat!!”
Sadly, however, many Internet users are focused on something else.
According to TMZ sources and others in the medical community, it looks very much as if there’s excess fluid around the fetus.
This has many wondering if the baby has a condition known as hydrops fetalis, which can be fatal.
You can take a close look at the ultrasound below:
It’s important to note here that this one ultrasound image is not conclusive.
There are other angles and other photos an expert would need to study in order to determine whether extra fluid is in additional cavities such as the heart, lungs or abdomen.
So states a radiologist from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to TMZ.
Chip and Joanna announced in October that they were ending Fixer Upper after five seasons.
“While we are confident that this is the right choice for us, it has for sure not been an easy one to come to terms with,” they said at the time, adding:
“Our family has grown up alongside yours, and we have felt you rooting us on from the other side of the screen.”
Cynics questioned whether this decision was simply a contract negotiating ploy, but Chip and Joanna remained adamant that they simply needed a break.
And they cited their family as the main reason why.
“This has nothing to do with a fraudulent skincare line or anything else you’ll inevitably read,” they continued.
“This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment.
“Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
We don’t know how far along Joanna is, so it’s possible she was already pregnant at the time of this announcement.
All we can say now, meanwhile, is that we’ll keep the couple in our thoughts and we will wish them all the best.
