Pediatric Cardiac Specialist Appointment Set

So they finally called this morning and after figuring out the mix up  and we were able to get the appointment set for March 17, 2011 at 8:30am. It's all the way down in Minneapolis, not too thrilled about that... by any means. Especially since it's with the very same group that has a clinic less than a mile from my house.

I am also not thrilled about the wait. Although I guess 24 weeks is a better time to view Isabella's heart, so she'll be half way between 23 and 24 weeks. In the mean time I have no appointments set up. Nothing. Arg!

I need to find some serious ways to pass time efficiently and to not worry so much in the mean time. Any hints or tips would be appreciated.

21 weeks...

Okay, this last week has been by FAR the longest week yet. It crawled by. However, the good news is, I am feeling her move much more. So much that she even wakes me up at night. I am quite happy with that!

I think I look smaller this week, but I am going to attribute that to the fact that I am losing weight left and right. I went from 10 lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight last Monday to 13 lbs below it on Thursday. The GD diet is to blame for the initial loss, but I think stress is playing a bigger role in the more recent loss. Even my face looks thinner to me. Of course the OB isn't worried about it at this point, she says that from 20 weeks on I should be gaining weight now. But I just don't see it happening. As long is Bella baby is growing as she should I am fine with the weight loss, even happy about it, and so far it looks like she's right on target.

As a side note, I am at about the point where I need to go but *smaller* maternity clothes. These ones, that fit fine before, are baggy and my pants fall down. >.<

And so it begins...

I couldn't figure out why on earth I was up at 5:30 am on a Sunday, but I know now. It seems there is a baby girl playing jump on mommy's bladder.

If there were ever a reason to be awake at an odd hour (for me) and smiling about it, that's one of the best in my opinion. And so I say to her... Good morning my sweet Isabella, I love you!

Something to be said for positive thinking.

Abby has proven over the past... year... I think it's been a year-ish, to be a very positive influence in my life. I would definitely say I am quite lucky to have her as a friend. She is so supportive seeming to know exactly what to say and when and I sincerely appreciate that.

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  • Abby Flaten Frustrating!! The one thing I see as a positive in this is that baby is okay while she's cooking and growing inside you at this point. I hope they get you the appointment and answers sooner rather than later, because no doubt you need and deserve them - but at least the delay isn't hurting her, right?
    

    13 minutes ago · 
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    Michele Whipps Anderson I believe it isn't and she is getting SO active. Of course then I worry she's going to kick the bad part of the cord. rofl. I can't win for losing. But each kick is a reassurance. I really need to find more positives and focus on those. Easier said than done! lol
    

    7 minutes ago · 

My sincerest thanks to you for helping me look at the silver lining when the clouds seems too thick to see any. It helps both the baby and I a lot, that that means so much to me.


Thank you!

Miscommunication

If I hadn't received a call by yesterday for the appointment with the pediatric cardiologist I was told to call to make sure an appointment got scheduled. So, no call... I called. The scheduling line was of course closed, but beyond that there was some sort of miscommunication between the Mercy Clinic and the Abbott Clinic and it looks like the appointment "might" be set up already, but it's not clear.

I will never understand why a clinic can't just hand you the referral with and needed instruction and allow you to set up your own appointment. It seems like that would make a lot more sense than this.

So, for now we "just hang in there" still and wait until Monday to see if we have an appointment and if so, when and where.

I've spent the past 5 days trying so hard to distract myself from all of this stress. I am going to run out of distractions well before I know what is going on. Sorry for the rant. It's just such a mess. I feel as if everything is up in the air at this point. :'(

No news today

And in my opinion.. for now... no news is good news. I think I've had about all I can handle for news this week!

Now, at the cardiologist appointment... I am hoping for good news. The problem is minor, or it just doesn't exist, OR it will resolve itself before birth.  I can hope right?

So, back to crocheting her gender neutral blanket that I started before I knew what she was, so I can get started on the ones with pretty colors for her.

Oh, and actually, while it isn't news, she let me know just how strong she's getting by kicking the stuffing out of me last night. I say kick away Bella baby, get that exercise and be nice and strong.

More bad news.

So, I didn't get the second U/S, the doctor made it clear that it wouldn't change anything. She just kept telling me how sorry she is that this is happening and asking if I'm okay. No, I am not okay. I'm not even a little okay. Then she told me something the Peri's office didn't happen to mention.

Velamentous cord insertion is an abnormal condition during pregnancy. Normally, the umbilical cord inserts into the middle of the placentaas it develops. In velamentous cord insertion, the umbilical cord inserts into the fetal membranes (choriamniotic membranes), then travels within the membranes to the placenta (between the amnion and the chorion). The exposed vessels are not protected by Wharton's jelly and hence are vulnerable to rupture. Rupture is especially likely if the vessels are near the cervix, in which case they may rupture in early labor, likely resulting in a stillbirth.

Early detection can reduce the need for emergency cesarean sections.^[1]

Now, not only do we have HRHS, but we also have velamentous cord insertion. This pregnancy just keeps getting  more and more complicated and risky.

I am so pathetic I asked if there is any way they could have me admitted to the hospital for monitoring of Isabella, she said no, they wouldn't even consider it.

So, here we are, she has a bad heart, we have a bad cord. The cord could be an issue at any time, especially during birth. It could lead to her being stillborn. The heart "shouldn't" be an issue until I have her. How do I keep my sanity through this? I've lost 3 more pounds since the Peri visit, which means I am 13 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight at this point.

Regular OB appointment today.

I have to wonder how it's going to go. I checked my "MyChart" to double check the time of the appointment, it's at 10am. However, while I was checking it, I noticed that they also have the results from the Peri now. I wonder if they're going to release me as a patient, or keep me. I am hoping, since Isabella has moved, that I can ask Dr. Greves very nicely to take another peak at her heart and send it over to the Peri.

During the initial scan the little one wouldn't move for her, but she's been kicking the stuff out of my left side today, which means she moved and maybe, just maybe they can get a better look at her heart. Maybe I am foolish being hopeful that a second look might tell a more hopeful story, but maybe I'm not. I know that in the position Bella was in, they were having problems getting a good image of the right side. Maybe, just maybe the new position will show something that is even a little bit better news.

So, my hopes are...

A. Dr. Greves will agree to and give a scan today at the appointment.
B. That there is good or at least better news concerning peanut's tiny heart.
C. Even *if* there isn't better news, I can better prepare myself and let go of that hope that the issue was position based.

I really think this will be a reasonable request and all I can do is pray that she will agree to try.

So, if you read this before my appointment, please pray that my hopes are granted, especially the better ones in the bunch.