Monday, January 25, 2010

Oh Boy oh boy!

I was born with some serious congenital heart problems. When I was at the age where babies are supposed to have doubled their weight, I had gained a total of 3 pounds. That was the biggest clue that something wasn't quite right. I ended up having heart surgery around 8 months and then open heart surgery at 5-years-old. Luckily that surgery, lots of prayers, and blessings was very successful. I have not had any restrictions or been on any medication since (except for pre-medicating when I go to the dentist).

Whenever I see a new doctor, which is a lot thanks to all of our moves, my history always raises lots of red flags, especially when I am pregnant. When I was pregnant with Lucas they asked me to get an echo (like an ultrasound on the heart). I did and the doctor kept asking who did my surgery as he was amazed at how great everything looked. And that was the end of it.

So when I went to my new doctor here, I was not a bit surprised when she said she wanted me to get an echo. But then she also said she wanted me to go see a Perinatal doctor for an echo for the babies heart. So being the good patient I am, I complied.

At the perinatal doctor I first had to meet with a genetic counselor who tried to scare me into all of the different possibilities and deformities there could be, so do I want test A, B, C and D? I told her, if I did find something out from any of these tests I would not terminate the pregnancy and would love my baby all the same so there was no point. This went on for about a hour when I finally convinced her that I was not worried and was not going to have any extra tests.

I then went for the ultrasound. I was 15 1/2 weeks when I had this ultrasound. They weren't able to see everything on the heart they wanted to yet, as the baby is still so small, but from what they could see everything looks great. I thought, well good this will be the end of it... but then I gave the letter that explains what exactly my condition is to the doctor and he got all excited.

Not excited in the worried about me or the baby kind of way, but excited wondering what are the chances for this being passed on (spefically my bi-cuspid heart valve--most people have tri-cuspid), has this been studied? He even called up another doctor during my appointment to ask if they could get together and talk about forming a database and study where they could keep track of this kind of information. Let me just say I began to feel a bit like a guinea pig.

He continued to talk with me for another couple of hours, yes you read that right... during which he would pause talk with another patient for a few minutes then come back and talk with me. I was just really grateful the Dr.'s office had free wi-fi. He was nice and I am glad he is interested but the fact that he wants me to come back once a month for the rest of my pregnancy... well thank goodness I have good friends and family like Lourie from CA girl who's willing to watch my kids and who's house my kids love going to.

So for your enjoyment here are a few of the ultrasound pictures.



Oh and to quote the technician
"he is obviously a boy"

23 comments:

  1. Wow...that a lot of have to deal with! I'm so glad that everything is OK now. And, yep, obviously a boy...how exciting! Congratulations!!!

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  2. Wow! That's just crazy! I can't believe the one tried to convince you to have tests for an hour! Usually when people say no right away, they have already thought about how they would answer.

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  3. Congratulations on a Boy! I'm partial, but I think boys are awesome! :D Wow. You could be part of a medical breakthrough/discovery! Lucky You! ;)

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  4. Well, obviously indeed! Way to handle all the dr. stuff so gracefully.

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  5. Wow! I've always wanted to be a guinea pig! My SIL has heart issues and actually got a pig valve a couple years ago. She hasn't had any problems in her pregnancies, either, thank goodness!

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  6. Hooray for boys! And sounds like you have a great doctor.

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  7. Congratulations. It sounds like you have found a very attentive doctor, lol. I'm glad you're doing so well. :0)

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  8. Congrats! I wish you had posted your reaction to having a boy. Did you have a preference? Is the rest of your family excited?

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  9. Haha! I tell ya a book is going to be written all about you! I am glad that it is going well. I love the foot. Baby feet are the best.

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  10. He kept you there for hours? I would have walked out! Congrats on your little boy!

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  11. How exciting I love to find out what I'm having. Good luck with all the Dr stuff.

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  12. Congratulations on another boy:) It seems to be the trend for this year, atleast from what I've seen.
    I hope they don't try to put you through too much for their research purposes!

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  13. brave woman! loving babysitters that watch children hours on end. i'm a fan of solitaire in the waiting room personally. kind of fun that you get to be a statistic, but on the good side of it;-)

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  14. Congratulations on a boy! Do you have good insurance? (That is what I would be worried about with all of the extra appointments.)

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  15. I love ultrasounds ... and you got some good ones!!! I love the little foot one.

    Good luck with everything ... and I personally think it will be reassuring to be able to get everything checked out each month ... hope the doctor covers the costs for his little study.

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  16. Congratulations! I love baby boys. If I could have guaranteed that it would have been a boy, I would have gone for number 8. I know, I'm crazy.

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  17. Yay! What fun for you! I am so excited for you and all the fun that is in store... not the guinea pig stuff... that would be so annoying! But having a little boy! Congratulations!

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  18. You know what they say - little girls will break your heart, little boys will break your house! Woohoo for the boy :-)

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  19. Congrats on the baby boy. It is pretty amazing all you have went through. I am so jealous you know Lourie!
    Holly

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  20. Yeah for attentive docs, that makes all the difference. And congrats on the boy. How exciting!

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  21. I love the shot of his little foot!
    I am so sorry that you have to go through all that for the rest of your pregnancy, but really, it might just work out, becuase then your doctor will know you, not just your number.
    I hope all goes well!

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  22. Hooray for little boys! Glad that everything looks good so far.

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