February 19, 2013

Today we had an appointment with our perinatalogist, who wanted to meet with us following the big appointment the previous day. We got to listen to the heartbeat again (it had dropped from 155 last week to 146 this week!) and we even heard some kicking happening (I have not felt anything yet L). We talked about danger signs of heart failure, heart transplants, and a lot of otherwise boring heart-related stuff. Then we started talking about Delivery Day!!! We learned that c-sections, although they sound “easier”, are actually more dangerous for my condition, so we will do our best to avoid that. It’s also not a question that I will require an epidural, at the very start of labor, to reduce pain and stress. We are also going to try to keep pushing to a minimum, so I am reeeeeally hoping this baby is not too big and can be easily pulled out with a little help from one of the many doctors that will be there! J At this point in the pregnancy, (almost out of the first trimester!) there seem to be a lot of unknowns and “wait and see”, though we feel completely 100% in our doctors and in our faith that God will carry this baby to term and will be safely delivered. It helps knowing, too, that while my case is rare, I am certainly not the first person in this condition to give birth, and our perinatalogist seems to know a lot about cardiomyopathy, and our cardiologist seems to know a lot about pregnancy, so it works out really well!