23 Weeks
Small Eggplant (22-24 weeks), or Large Mango
I missed last week. Not because I was forgetful, but because I was busy. No matter. Baby's size hit "eggplant" last week (though maybe this is a puny eggplant), and is about the same for this and the next. Somewhere around 1-1.5 pounds, this little dude is kicking up a storm. Had a Level 2 Ultrasound last week, which included a fetal echocardiogram (EKG). Because the firstborn had a ventricular septal defect prior to birth, they wanted to check to be sure this little ticker was ticking properly. No worries. 150bpm at the last midwife appointment three days ago. He's doing great. He had the hiccups during the entire EKG appointment, which made it fun for the docs to try and get a good image. However, they felt pretty confident that 90% of possible heart defects were ruled out. The other 10% cannot be diagnosed in utero (things like the hole in the top of the heart, which is present in utero, failing to close upon birth). I'm feeling pretty good, but noticing that my lower back is starting to ache. Gotta carry this little dude around for about 17 more weeks (maybe less). He's only going to get bigger. And wigglier.
Showing posts with label vsd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vsd. Show all posts
Friday, November 7, 2014
Thursday, November 29, 2007
34 Weeks, 2 Days
Had the last ultrasound today. Baby was pretty cooperative, although it took some time to see the heart. Didn't matter much because this tech didn't really have the high-quality machine that the other tech did, nor the expertise about VSDs - so she said she couldn't see them, and I guess that's a good thing. Anyway, the part you are all waiting for... pictures!
Baby has a head full of hair!
You can see a closed eye and eyebrow.
Baby gots some fat lips!
If you can't see that last one, tilt your head to the right and imagine Baby is blindfolded. You can see the bottom of the little nose and then BIG FAT LIPS!!!! That's okay, both Mommy and Daddy have them as well. Time is drawing short on this pregnancy. Less than six weeks to go. Hopefully, Baby wants to show up on time (or maybe a few days early). We shall see.
If you can't see that last one, tilt your head to the right and imagine Baby is blindfolded. You can see the bottom of the little nose and then BIG FAT LIPS!!!! That's okay, both Mommy and Daddy have them as well. Time is drawing short on this pregnancy. Less than six weeks to go. Hopefully, Baby wants to show up on time (or maybe a few days early). We shall see.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Week 28 Ultrasound
Today is Week 28, Day 6. Almost 29 weeks. I'm technically in the third trimester now, and the DAY is drawing closer. I got some new clothes in the mail from my mother. Here's a little taste:
We got some great news today at the ultrasound. The VSDs (holes) in the baby's heart are now down to less than one millimeter each in size. With any luck, they will be gone before the birth. If not, they should be gone close after. The next ultrasound is not until 29 November, so we have plenty of time to work it out!
My suspicions were confirmed today... the reason my ribs hurt so badly is because a tiny foot is wedged up there in them throughout much of the day. I have started doing yoga and other stretches to get Baby to do something else with its feet for a while, but eventually they migrate right back into their favorite resting place. I guess I shouldn't complain. It's slightly less annoying than the sciatic nerve pain I had for the entire second trimester.
And now, the ones you're REALLY waiting for, the baby:
Baby's eyes are open. Because we woke it up with the ultrasound! 
Big yawn!!!
It's simply amazing to watch the little one grow and move. We saw the eyes moving around, "looking" at stuff (even though it's REALLY dark in there and not much to see). And the little one's tongue, tasting the amniotic fluid and practicing the SUCK. The technician says there is hair on Baby's head now. The heart rate was really good... 138 bpm at first (sleeping), and finally around 150 bpm by the end (because Baby was irritated, I think). Baby weighs 3 lbs., 1 oz. and is about a week ahead for its size (looking like a 30 week, 1 day baby rather than a 28 week, 6 day baby). Here's hoping that means the little one shows up early!
We got some great news today at the ultrasound. The VSDs (holes) in the baby's heart are now down to less than one millimeter each in size. With any luck, they will be gone before the birth. If not, they should be gone close after. The next ultrasound is not until 29 November, so we have plenty of time to work it out!
My suspicions were confirmed today... the reason my ribs hurt so badly is because a tiny foot is wedged up there in them throughout much of the day. I have started doing yoga and other stretches to get Baby to do something else with its feet for a while, but eventually they migrate right back into their favorite resting place. I guess I shouldn't complain. It's slightly less annoying than the sciatic nerve pain I had for the entire second trimester.
And now, the ones you're REALLY waiting for, the baby:
It's simply amazing to watch the little one grow and move. We saw the eyes moving around, "looking" at stuff (even though it's REALLY dark in there and not much to see). And the little one's tongue, tasting the amniotic fluid and practicing the SUCK. The technician says there is hair on Baby's head now. The heart rate was really good... 138 bpm at first (sleeping), and finally around 150 bpm by the end (because Baby was irritated, I think). Baby weighs 3 lbs., 1 oz. and is about a week ahead for its size (looking like a 30 week, 1 day baby rather than a 28 week, 6 day baby). Here's hoping that means the little one shows up early!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Getting Better all the Time
Ultrasound for week 22 was completed yesterday. Had the echocardiogram with the specialist looking on. Baby still has two holes (VSDs) in the heart, one of which is "pretty likely" to heal up on its own - maybe even before baby is born. The other has a smaller chance of doing that, but the good news is that it's small enough that it shouldn't require surgery. And they won't get bigger than they already are.
The EIF (calcium spot) is not a concern to the cardiologist or anyone else, either. It is not likely to have any effect on the heart's function.
It sounded great, looked great, and all other baby parts are normal and healthy. Baby weighed one pound, one ounce yesterday. No idea how "big" he/she is because there isn't enough room for baby to really stretch out anymore. Measurements would be inaccurate. They had estimated the growth rate at around the 77th percentile from the previous (week 19) ultrasound though.
The doctor expects baby to grow to full term without further complications, but just to be sure I will have another ultrasound in six to seven weeks. Careful what you wish for!!! I signed up for the gall bladder research so I could get more ultrasounds and see the baby more. With the complications, I have had the opportunity (already) to see more of my baby than most women get in their whole pregnancies.
The EIF (calcium spot) is not a concern to the cardiologist or anyone else, either. It is not likely to have any effect on the heart's function.
It sounded great, looked great, and all other baby parts are normal and healthy. Baby weighed one pound, one ounce yesterday. No idea how "big" he/she is because there isn't enough room for baby to really stretch out anymore. Measurements would be inaccurate. They had estimated the growth rate at around the 77th percentile from the previous (week 19) ultrasound though.
The doctor expects baby to grow to full term without further complications, but just to be sure I will have another ultrasound in six to seven weeks. Careful what you wish for!!! I signed up for the gall bladder research so I could get more ultrasounds and see the baby more. With the complications, I have had the opportunity (already) to see more of my baby than most women get in their whole pregnancies.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Shot Through the Heart
I saw eleventy-billion pictures of my baby yesterday. Moving, kicking, squirming, and hiding its face with crossed arms. And hiding its sex with crossed legs (so THERE...baby doesn't want to be identified).
But they saw something on the ultrasound they didn't like. My brilliant husband noticed it too, and he immediately asked, "What is that bright spot in the baby's heart?" The ultrasound technician sort of waived it off as if it were nothing, but then the doctor called us back in.
The bright white was a calcium deposit, known as an Echogenic Intracardiac Focus, or EIF. He said that EIF is a fetal marker for Down Syndrome. Although I had the blood test a few weeks ago and it came up normal, those tests tend to miss approximately 20% of all known cases. We have the option of doing an amniocentesis (where they stick a large needle through my abdomen and draw some of the amniotic fluid around the baby) to get an accurate reading and know for sure, but the risk includes miscarriage at a rate of 1 in 200. The risk of actually having DS is about the same, maybe a little higher. My question is, what would knowing do for us? It wouldn't change the diagnosis, and it certainly wouldn't change our decision to keep our baby. So to me, it isn't worth the risk.
The other thing that was noted on the baby's heart was what is known as a Ventricular Septal Defect, or VSD. This is basically a hole in baby's heart in the muscle between the left and right ventricles. It means very little now because all of the baby's blood is being filtered by my heart. But after birth, the oxygenated blood will mix with and displace the de-oxygenated blood, causing some potentially long-term problems. The problem could fix itself, or baby might need surgery before the age of two. That is more of a wait-and-see thing. Here's a picture of normal versus not normal:
Here's hoping that hole they saw isn't very large (really, what is 3mm in the grand scheme of things?) and that it will repair itself.
I am scheduled for another ultrasound in two weeks, this time with a greater focus on the heart. I was just so excited to see it beating, that I don't even care about anything else.
But they saw something on the ultrasound they didn't like. My brilliant husband noticed it too, and he immediately asked, "What is that bright spot in the baby's heart?" The ultrasound technician sort of waived it off as if it were nothing, but then the doctor called us back in.
The bright white was a calcium deposit, known as an Echogenic Intracardiac Focus, or EIF. He said that EIF is a fetal marker for Down Syndrome. Although I had the blood test a few weeks ago and it came up normal, those tests tend to miss approximately 20% of all known cases. We have the option of doing an amniocentesis (where they stick a large needle through my abdomen and draw some of the amniotic fluid around the baby) to get an accurate reading and know for sure, but the risk includes miscarriage at a rate of 1 in 200. The risk of actually having DS is about the same, maybe a little higher. My question is, what would knowing do for us? It wouldn't change the diagnosis, and it certainly wouldn't change our decision to keep our baby. So to me, it isn't worth the risk.
The other thing that was noted on the baby's heart was what is known as a Ventricular Septal Defect, or VSD. This is basically a hole in baby's heart in the muscle between the left and right ventricles. It means very little now because all of the baby's blood is being filtered by my heart. But after birth, the oxygenated blood will mix with and displace the de-oxygenated blood, causing some potentially long-term problems. The problem could fix itself, or baby might need surgery before the age of two. That is more of a wait-and-see thing. Here's a picture of normal versus not normal:
Here's hoping that hole they saw isn't very large (really, what is 3mm in the grand scheme of things?) and that it will repair itself.
I am scheduled for another ultrasound in two weeks, this time with a greater focus on the heart. I was just so excited to see it beating, that I don't even care about anything else.
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