Myth #1: “I did something to cause this”
We had to start with this one because it’s the first thought every mom has when she hears her baby has a congenital lung malformation.
“I remember being in the room at the 20 week scan when they told us our baby had a lung mass and the only thing I managed to say was: ‘is this because I kept forgetting to take my prenatal vitamins?’. As I said it I realized how stupid it sounded but it just felt impossible that I hadn't somehow caused this. I wanted to protect my baby so badly that I blamed myself when something went wrong.”
Every CPAM mom we have ever spoken to or heard from—HUNDREDS at this point—has their version of this mom’s “prenatal vitamin” story. This thought is so common and it makes sense. When something scary happens in pregnancy, our brains go looking for a reason. This is an attempt to create control in a situation that feels totally out of control.
But it’s also a painful trap.
Fact: Congenital lung malformations are not caused by anything you did or didn’t do during pregnancy.
Congenital lung malformations form very very early in fetal development, by the 10th week of pregnancy. As far as current research and leading experts know, there is no known cause for CLMs and nothing a mom ate, drank, thought, felt, lifted, did or failed to do made this happen.
If you’re stuck in guilt, take a deep breath. You’re not “being irrational”, you’re a parent who already loves their baby and wants to protect them.
Why this myth sticks
Even when you know it’s not your fault, the question keeps coming back because:
Pregnancy comes with a constant stream of “do/don’t” rules.
People ask casual questions that land like accusations (“Were you sick?” “Did you take anything?” “Did you…?”).
Online searching surfaces worst-case stories and speculation, which fuels the feeling that there must be a reason.
If you’re still wondering “but what if…?”
If you keep looping, bring it to your care team directly. Ask the blunt question: “Is there anything known that causes this? Did I do anything to contribute?” Hearing a clear answer from a clinician can quiet the mental spiral in a way that reassurance from friends can’t.