We are at the hospital. After an exam with my doctor this morning he decided that I needed to be induced today. Max will be here soon!!! We will post more when we can. Please say an extra prayer that Max will be strong.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
False Alarm...
Today we had a false alarm. This afternoon I thought my water broke. I was feeling fluid trickle for a few hours at home. When I called my doctor's office they told me to go to the hospital so I could be examined to determine if my water actually broke or not. Well after going through the whole procedure of being checked in, answering all the health related questions, being hooked up to monitors and being examined by the doctor they said that the fluid I was leaking was not amnionic fluid so I was sent home. What was the fluid you ask- your guess is as good as mine. Being pregnant does some weird things to your body.
Having my doctor tell me to go the hospital I immediately felt adrenaline. I let myself get excited anticipating that today could be the day. We packed a hospital bag, grandma was here to watch Morgen, we had the camera battery charged... we thought we might have a baby today. It is hard to not feel disappointment and frustration that I now still have to wait. But at the same time I am so relieved. I was not ready for Max to arrive 2 weeks early. I still have a lot to do to feel "prepared" to bring a newborn home. Plus, throughout the entire pregnancy the doctors have told me that they want Max to get as big as possible so being 2 weeks early could have caused more complications.
Hopefully this won't happen again until it is the real thing. It sure made for an exciting afternoon though. And like Spencer's dad said, "How lucky that you got to do a test run!"
Me and Spencer heading off to the hospital... only to return 2 hours later!
Hopefully this won't happen again until it is the real thing. It sure made for an exciting afternoon though. And like Spencer's dad said, "How lucky that you got to do a test run!"
Me and Spencer heading off to the hospital... only to return 2 hours later!
Friday, December 26, 2008
2 More Weeks...
I went in this morning for a growth ultrasound and a normal OB check-up. Max is getting so big! Right now he is measuring just over 7lbs! I still have 2 more weeks to go which means Max has the potential to be over 8 pounds by the time he is born. Yikes!
When I met with the doctor today he felt it was best to have an induction scheduled earlier rather then later. So we set the date- January 12th! If I have not gone into labor naturally before then I will be induced on Monday the 12th. We decided on Monday so that Max and I will have a full staff of doctors available all week since sometimes the staffing on the weekend does not include all the specialist we will need to meet with.
One other side note about my appointment... the technician that performed the ultrasound told me that he has worked with Dr. King (our cardiologist) a lot. He said if he ever had a child with a heart problem he would camp out in front of Dr. King's office to insure that he would be his child's doctor. According to him, Dr. King is the best out there. How reassuring to know that Max will be in such good hands.
When I met with the doctor today he felt it was best to have an induction scheduled earlier rather then later. So we set the date- January 12th! If I have not gone into labor naturally before then I will be induced on Monday the 12th. We decided on Monday so that Max and I will have a full staff of doctors available all week since sometimes the staffing on the weekend does not include all the specialist we will need to meet with.
One other side note about my appointment... the technician that performed the ultrasound told me that he has worked with Dr. King (our cardiologist) a lot. He said if he ever had a child with a heart problem he would camp out in front of Dr. King's office to insure that he would be his child's doctor. According to him, Dr. King is the best out there. How reassuring to know that Max will be in such good hands.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Appointment this week...
Everything is looking good! My blood pressure is low and Max's heart rate is strong! Only 3 more weeks!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sleepless nights...
Last night I couldn't sleep.
My mind was just swirling with thoughts of Max... I can not believe that he will be here in less then a month. I am I ready for another baby? How will this labor and delivery be different from my first? Will he be a good sleeper? What will he smell like? What will it feel like to be in the hospital but have my baby in a separate room? How many tests and exams will he need? Will he have hair? How many different nurses will take care of him? How little will he be? What time of the day will he be born? When visitors come will they be able to see and hold him? Will he have tubes hooked up to him the entire time we are at the hospital? Will I have to listen to him cry from across the room and not be able to hold him? How will Morgen respond to meeting his brother for the first time? Will he be able to breastfeed or will he be on a feeding tube? Will my bond with him happen instantly or will it happen more gradually? Will he look like me or Spencer? How long will he need to stay in the hospital?...
Those are just a few of the millions of questions I have in my head. I did not even want to attempt trying to write out all my questions about when he comes home and when he needs to go back to the hospital for surgery. How I am I suppose to sleep when there are so many unknowns? How do I turn off my worried, mommy mind long enough to relax at night?
My mind was just swirling with thoughts of Max... I can not believe that he will be here in less then a month. I am I ready for another baby? How will this labor and delivery be different from my first? Will he be a good sleeper? What will he smell like? What will it feel like to be in the hospital but have my baby in a separate room? How many tests and exams will he need? Will he have hair? How many different nurses will take care of him? How little will he be? What time of the day will he be born? When visitors come will they be able to see and hold him? Will he have tubes hooked up to him the entire time we are at the hospital? Will I have to listen to him cry from across the room and not be able to hold him? How will Morgen respond to meeting his brother for the first time? Will he be able to breastfeed or will he be on a feeding tube? Will my bond with him happen instantly or will it happen more gradually? Will he look like me or Spencer? How long will he need to stay in the hospital?...
Those are just a few of the millions of questions I have in my head. I did not even want to attempt trying to write out all my questions about when he comes home and when he needs to go back to the hospital for surgery. How I am I suppose to sleep when there are so many unknowns? How do I turn off my worried, mommy mind long enough to relax at night?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Non-stress Test...
From now until Max in born I will be having weekly doctor appointments. At each appointment I will have a non-stress test. Basically I have to sit there for 30 minutes while I am hooked up to monitors that measure Max's heart rate and my contractions. Today everything checked out normal- my body is not under stress and neither is Max. My doctor said that according to the testing performed today I should be on track to carry Max full term and should not need to be induced unless I go past 40 weeks.
Earlier this week I was able to schedule an appointment with the Pediatric Cardiology Case Manager at Emmanuel Hospital. In a week Spencer and I will meet with her and she will take us around the hospital and give us a more in depth tour of the facilities that Max will be using when he is born and when he returns for surgeries. I am anxious to meet with the case manager and ask LOTS of questions.
Earlier this week I was able to schedule an appointment with the Pediatric Cardiology Case Manager at Emmanuel Hospital. In a week Spencer and I will meet with her and she will take us around the hospital and give us a more in depth tour of the facilities that Max will be using when he is born and when he returns for surgeries. I am anxious to meet with the case manager and ask LOTS of questions.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Blue Baby Syndrome...
One of the main concerns about Max immediately after he is born will be his oxygen saturation levels. Since his heart will be mixing the oxygen rich blood (red blood) and the oxygen low blood (blue blood) that means that blood low in oxygen will be pumped back through his body causing his coloring to be blue. If someone is choking their lips turn blue because they are low on oxygen- essentially the same thing will happen to Max, he won't be choking but the blue coloring will cover his entire body. It is just a temporary condition and most likely he will be put on oxygen tubes immediately so his coloring will be "normal" within a few days. This is just one of the side effects of being born with a congenital heart defect. And really this is the only side effect (that we know of) that is noticeable just by looking at him- otherwise he should look like a regular little baby.
This is an image I found on google.com of a baby that was born with Blue Baby Syndrome.
This is an image I found on google.com of a baby that was born with Blue Baby Syndrome.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Our last visit with Dr. King...
Today I had my last appointment with Dr. King, the pediatric cardiologist. Basically everything is the same- which is really good news. Max is growing. He is now a healthy 5lbs 2oz. His heart is continuing to grow proportionate to his body. Dr. King is really happy with the growth of Max and even said that there isn't a need to have a scheduled induction; however, my OB/GYN is still probably going to schedule an induction so that he and the other staff will be prepared.
After our last appointment with Dr. King our concern was that the hole between the ventricles would begin closing- today it was confirmed that the hole is actually growing proportionate to the rest of his heart. We might side step an additional surgery if that hole stays large enough to allow adequate blood flow between the right and left ventricle. I know it sounds strange to hope that a hole in my son's heart will continue to grow larger but Max's heart is pretty unique and the hole is actually helping his body circulate the blood more efficiently.
Another bit of good news- with a single ventricle heart, like Max, there is an increased chance that the pulmonary artery will stretch out causing too much blood to be pumped to the heart. Essentially the heart could flood if the pulmonary artery is stretched too wide. Often a surgery is needed to band the artery to keep it from stretching too much. Today Dr. King said that the circumference of Max's pulmonary artery is at a length that is not too large. So again, we might side step another surgery :) Of course Max's heart can change a lot between now and when he is born but the thought of less surgeries is so encouraging to me.
We will not meet with Dr. King again until this little one arrives. At that point Dr. King will do a thorough examination of Max and will be able to give us a more accurate time table of when (or if) certain surgeries would need to be performed. Dr. King has been so reassuring throughout our visits with him. I feel 100% confident that he will provide the best medical care for our son.
I am only 5 weeks from my due date! I now need to go in for weekly appointments so the doctors can monitor the stress levels of me and Max. I will let everyone know if there are any changes but at this point we are praying that the rest of this pregnancy will non-eventful. Thank you to everyone who has been a source of support through your encouraging words and prayers.
After our last appointment with Dr. King our concern was that the hole between the ventricles would begin closing- today it was confirmed that the hole is actually growing proportionate to the rest of his heart. We might side step an additional surgery if that hole stays large enough to allow adequate blood flow between the right and left ventricle. I know it sounds strange to hope that a hole in my son's heart will continue to grow larger but Max's heart is pretty unique and the hole is actually helping his body circulate the blood more efficiently.
Another bit of good news- with a single ventricle heart, like Max, there is an increased chance that the pulmonary artery will stretch out causing too much blood to be pumped to the heart. Essentially the heart could flood if the pulmonary artery is stretched too wide. Often a surgery is needed to band the artery to keep it from stretching too much. Today Dr. King said that the circumference of Max's pulmonary artery is at a length that is not too large. So again, we might side step another surgery :) Of course Max's heart can change a lot between now and when he is born but the thought of less surgeries is so encouraging to me.
We will not meet with Dr. King again until this little one arrives. At that point Dr. King will do a thorough examination of Max and will be able to give us a more accurate time table of when (or if) certain surgeries would need to be performed. Dr. King has been so reassuring throughout our visits with him. I feel 100% confident that he will provide the best medical care for our son.
I am only 5 weeks from my due date! I now need to go in for weekly appointments so the doctors can monitor the stress levels of me and Max. I will let everyone know if there are any changes but at this point we are praying that the rest of this pregnancy will non-eventful. Thank you to everyone who has been a source of support through your encouraging words and prayers.
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