A few of you were asking how our ultrasound this week went...well, it's another boy! We're excited for Oliver to have a little brother.
We did get some difficult news, though. After confirming it with a cardiologist, he has a heart defect that will need to be repaired right after birth (open heart surgery). We have no choice but to leave it in the doctor's hands. They said it's a completely random thing and he's healthy otherwise, but I may ask to have an amnio to make sure there's nothing else going on. We're definitely in shock and it's a lot to take in. It really does put things in perspective (to think last week I was wondering what paint color I'd use!).
I'm thankful we are in Philly because CHOP is one of the top hospitals for pediatric heart surgery. Most likely I'll deliver there. We're really hopeful this little boy will be fine and live a normal life!
Re: an update
Congratulations on your boy! Sorry about the news, but agree that CHOP is great. I had an amnio, so let me know if you have questions (of course I'm no expert, but I can tell you about my experience).
DD: 6-24-11
EDD: 9-20-14
Congrats on baby boy #2!
So sorry to hear about the heart defect but hopefully it's a routine fix. You will be in the best hands at CHOP!
#1 12.11.11
#2 10.23.13 EDD
Congrats on boy #2!
We have been through the wringer and back with CHOP, and really there is no place else you rather be. It is amazing how "routine" things are there, and how much they can calm you.
That's what I'm hoping --- my boss knows someone who MOVED to Philly from South Carolina for a year in order for their son to have the same exact surgery that we'll be going through. They have counselors and all sorts of people that will help us along the way.
Take advantage of EVERYTHING offered to not only the baby, but you and DH (and Oliver!). Our experience was traumatic, but ultimately brief and a non-issue. But in retrospect, both DH and I should have taken more advantage of the social workers and things like that for ourselves.
At least one of us has great mother's intuition--Congrats on your second baby boy! Now the tough part is picking another boy name!
Im sorry to hear of your scary medical news, but it sounds like he will be with the best experts possible and has positive prognosis so thats good news to hang on to.
Excited for boy #2. Sorry to hear about the news of the heart surgery, but you really are in the best place possible as you said. I'm sure everything will be fine. Let me know if you need anything along the way, support, venting, whatever. :-)
Congrats on another little boy! My thoughts and prayers will be with all of you. I honestly believe you will be in good hands at CHOP.
Congrats on baby boy #2! How great for Oliver to have a little brother. And I will be keeping your LO in my thoughts - you are in great hands at CHOP! My BIL had some very severe heart defects at birth and was a CHOP patient through adulthood. They took great care of him!
Congrats on another boy! You're so outnumbered in that house. They will get him fixed up right and good at CHOP!
I am so sorry to hear your baby has a complication, but as everyone hada said he will be in the best possible hands.
Many congrats on another boy and wishing you all the best for a comfortable remainder of pregnancy!
Thanks everyone.
This is so good to hear, I love stories like this. What defect do you have, if you don't mind sharing? You can PM me too if you want. I guess we're pretty lucky to have CHOP to close to us.
Yay for brothers!
I hope all goes well with the surgery at CHOP. They are definitely the best docs around.
Transposition of the great arteries is a rare heart defect present at birth (congenital), in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed (transposed). Transposition of the great arteries changes the way blood circulates through the body, leaving a shortage of oxygen in blood flowing from the heart to the rest of the body. Without an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood, the body can't function properly.
Is this what you have/had? They'll be doing an arterial switch surgery on our LO. He also has a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in addition to the transposition.
Congrats on your baby boy!
I'm sorry to hear about the heart defect. CHOP is incredible, he'll be in very good hands.
Is this what you have/had? They'll be doing an arterial switch surgery on our LO. He also has a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in addition to the transposition.
Well its what the operation I had...they said you never supposed to say you are "fixed." I had VSD. The TGA is the operation I had. Sorry. After almost 30yrs you think I would know how to explain it better haha!
Well I'm glad to hear you're doing so well! I'll PM you if we have any questions or anything.
Jonathan Dean 4.5.08
Anna Capri 5.4.11
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13