Today we were scheduled for a Fetal Echo. At our last ultra sound 2 weeks ago they had concerns that there was a mass on the baby's heart. They wanted to take a look at this closes, so they booked us in for a Fetal Echocardiogram. A Fetal echocardiogram is a test used to view your unborn baby's heart, similar to an ultrasound. This exam allows your doctor to view the structure and function of the fetus's heart. Our Fetal Echo took approx. 1.5 hr, after the echo exam, they send the results to the cardiologist to look over. We were then taken to a room to wait to speak with the cardiologist. The wait felt like for ever, the cardiologist's ( 2 doctors) then came to tell us that they want to take a look at the heart themselves, so back to the fetal echo exam room again. I started to worry. We already have enough to deal with, with our little one having Spina Bifida. I was hoping that there was nothing more wrong with our little one. It gets heard for them to look at the heart as the baby gets old as the baby ribs cast shadows, making it difficult to get a clear look at the heart. After the cardiologists had a look for them selves, they came to the conclusion that the baby's heart was health and there was no mass attached to it's heart. It was just the thymus that looked like a mass. I was so relieved to hear them say this. They also want to have another Eco done after the baby is born to be more sure.
We were only booked in for a fetal Echo today, but it ended up turning into three appointments. They want us to meet with all the doctors we will be dealing with now and after our little one is born. The neonatologist was free, so we were able to sit down and meet him. A Neonatologist is trained specifically to handle the most complex and high-risk situations. With our little one having Spina Bifida, the neonatologist is going to assist at the time of delivery and in the subsequent care of our newborn. Our neonatologist is also involved to consult with our obstetrician in our baby’s care during my pregnancy. The neonatologist went over whats going to go on once our little one is born. It will be born c-section at the Foothills hospital, as its the safer way to have our little one born without damaging the spinal cord more. After it's born they will take it immediately to stabilize it and wrap the final cord (lesion). they have to be very careful with our baby so it doesn't get an infection with the spinal cord being exposed. After they baby is taken care of I will be able to see my little one for a short time. Before they transport it to the Children's hospital where he will be under going surgery. They like to perform the surgery within the first 72 hours to prevent infection occurring. This surgery aims to prevent further damage of the nervous tissue and to prevent infection, our Paediatric Neosurgeon Dr Jay Riva-Cambrin will operate to close the opening on his back. The spinal cord and its nerve roots are put back inside the spine and covered.
After we meet with the neonatologist, we meet with the Perinatologist. Which is a Maternal-fetal medicine doctor (MFM), its a obstetrician that focuses on the medical and surgical management of high risk pregnancies.
it's great to have such a awesome medical team working with us.
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