Erica's been feeding nicely and gaining her weight back ( she lost 23 % of her birth weight she was 2 lbs 9 oz) I have been mainly pumping these few day's but my supply is great (according to the nurses)
It was noted that Erica was not only a IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) baby because of a poorly placed placenta (attached to a septum and baby B's sac), but her cord was a 2 vessel cord instead of 3, and the placenta was detaching from the wall (hence the reasoning behind my bleeding and clotting), and the placenta didn't look healthy at all, which indicated that there could be a problem with her heart/kidneys/stomach and a bunch of other things in her abdomen.
Erica had an echo done do to having a "molted" look to her body. They found that she has a heart condition in which she has a "shelf" in her Aorta coming from the heart (Coarctation of Aorta) Aortic coarctation is a narrowing of part of the aorta (the major artery leading out of the heart) The aorta carries blood from the heart to the vessels that supply the body with blood and nutrients. If part of the aorta is narrowed, it is hard for blood to pass through the artery (it's on the other side of the arteries going to her brain, which is good as the blood flow is great to her brain)
However she also has a large PDA (*Patent Ductus Arteriosus* abnormal blood flow occurs between two of the major arteries connected to the heart. These arteries are the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Before birth, these arteries are connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus. This blood vessel is a vital part of fetal blood circulation. Within minutes or up to a few days after birth, the ductus arteriosus closes. This change is normal in newborns. In some babies, however, the ductus arteriosus remains open (patent). The opening allows oxygen-rich blood from the aorta to mix with oxygen-poor blood from the pulmonary artery. This can strain the heart and increase blood pressure in the lung arteries )
With the two heart conditions it's been causing low blood pressure to her left side including her kidney's and such.
Good news is that Dr. Tyrell a pediatric cardiologist doesn't think that we need surgery for it, right now and would like to see first what signs she'll show. So we are to wait and see what the shelf will do when the ductus closes on itself.
They also took blood work and sent it to the Labs in B.C for Chromosome testing, and did ultrasounds on her brain/abdomen and back.
All the ultrasounds came back great! No brain problems and good blood flow. No abdominal issues, and no Spinal issues or openings.
Her chromosomal blood work came back great as well! No downs, spina bifida or any other chromosomal problems.
So all in all she's so far healthy we only have to work on getting her off of the tube feedings, gaining some more weight so she can hold her own body temp, and hopefully figure out her heart thing which it seems that it's not too big of a problem just something to keep an eye on.
We still aren't too sure when we are able to bring her home.
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