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Hello Everyone/Heart Surgery ?
jadwedd
member
Hi!
I am now 31 weeks pregnant with my first baby. She will be a girl named Amanda and her heart has Truncus. She will need surgery right after she is born. I will deliver her at CHOP and we will being staying at the Ronald McDonald house. I am very scared right now, but I know that she will be in good hands. Has anyone else dealt with anything like this?
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Re: Hello Everyone/Heart Surgery ?
Welcome!
You may want to edit your post title to say something like "Heart Issues" or "Heart Mommies". Some of those moms kinda lurk/visit here on and off. You may get more responses from moms who have been there done that.
Many thoughts and prayers for Amanda. My daughter had 2 heart surgeries at 8 days old. We didn't find out she had heart defects until she was 2 days old. We are lucky enough to live near the hospital where Brynn had heart surgery, so I have no experience with the Ronald McDonald house. It really is amazing what they are able to fix these days! Even though I know it is very scary for your family, it is good that you know now and that everyone is prepared for the surgery. Are you going to try to breastfeed? I felt that for Brynn, it was a huge aid in helping her heal quickly. Are they doing a c-section, induction, or letting things happen naturally? I am not sure what I might be able to answer for you, but you are not alone. Please feel free to ask me any questions. Lots of love and prayers for Amanda!
-Julie
When Brynn was born, she was 8lbs 13 oz. One of the heart doctors commented on how great it was that she was so big. He said that the OBGYNs often will "get" the babies out early when they have issues because they are worried about any potential issues in the womb. And then they end up being so small and harder to operate on. So, it's great that they are letting Amanda stay in until she is ready!
As for breastfeeding, I am sure that you already have a pump. If the heart hospital there is anything like ours, they will also have a room with supplies and a hospital pump that you can use when you are at the hospital visiting. They will also provide you with the bottles for the milk so that they will be able to give it to the hospital to use the milk after she has surgery. Make sure you have some lanolin too. You will probably get sore in the beginning from pumping, and the lanolin can help ease the pain a bit.