Disclaimer: This is how I can best explain the story–in layman’s terms. Excuse my lack of medical knowledge. Adam might want to add his bit.
Baby Scare–Part I
At 34.5 weeks, I went to my routine OB appointment. What was expected to be a 5-10 minute routine OB visit turned into a dreaded 8.5 hours at the hospital–with TYLER. My OB discovered that baby had an irregular heartbeat. It was unusual because she had a normal heartbeat up until then. So, I was sent to the Fetal Monitoring department to find out that they could not establish a baseline for her heart rate because it was so irregular. Enter Adam. Thankfully, he was able to get coverage for his cases that day so he could watch Tyler (the poor little guy freaked out more and more after seeing me hooked up to all sorts of wires all day). I was then sent to the Perinatology Unit for a series of ultrasounds and an ECG. There, I had several ultrasounds by technicians and a perinatologist. They confirmed baby’s arrhythMIA AND in the process of doing a biophysical profile, discovered a “large unidentifiable mass” in her right lung….wha-whaaaat?! Then, came more testing and no results. Baby was breathing perfectly and although she had an arrhythMIA, her heart was structurally perfect and was functioning fine. So, they sent me home for the weekend and ordered more testing with specialists. It was the LONGEST WEEKEND EVER.
On Monday morning, I had another ECG done by a pediatric cardiologist. He too confirmed the arrhythMIA, but assured us that there was nothing to worry about. Baby had PAC’s–premature atrial contractions which are fairly common and go away at birth or shortly after. Phew! Then, I was sent to the radiologist to identify the “large unidentifiable mass.” They were “95%” certain that it was an enlarged thymus–a fatty structure near the heart and lungs, responsible for T-cells. We were reassured that it was perfectly fine and that although enlarged, 1) it was within a normal size 2) it would normalize in time and 3) that all that was needed was a chest X-ray shortly after birth.
Fine. We were hugely relieved and it was just a waiting game for the next 3 weeks.
Labor
Aside from the baby scare, several signs led me to believe that she was going to arrive early. I was hoping my OB would grant my request to move up my c-section date but no luck.
Well, I went into early active labor on November 16, two days before my scheduled c-section (of course). We didn’t quite make it to Belly Cast#3. Contractions started at 8:53a. I just knew it. I started timing and recording each contraction to see if there was a pattern and sure enough, there was. So, I called the OHSU Labor & Delivery unit to notify them I was on my way, called my girlfriend Shannon to pick me up (mom had to stay at home with Tyler) and gathered a few more items for the hospital (of course, my hospital bag had already been packed for months). I was calm and collected until I had to say good-bye to Tyler. He had a feeling something big was going to happen–when I tried to leave, he just would not let go=(
So, Shannon drove me to the hospital (as fast as she could–thank you, Shannon). I met Adam at the Emergency Department and we headed straight to the L&D Triage, where they monitored baby and contractions. I was already 5 cm dilated so they got me into the OR ASAP. Ironically, OHSU (Adam’s hospital) had more restrictions than Good Samaritan Hospital (where I delivered Tyler). So, Adam could not take very many pictures, nor did he cut the umbilical cord like he did with Tyler. Instead, he hung out with me on the other side of the drape. This time around, I did not vomit, BUT my spinal made me so tired and my face so ITCHY. I was half asleep during the whole procedure and recall hearing the attendings guiding the residents. The c-section went beautifully.
As I headed back to my room, Miss Mia was sent to the NICU for monitoring. There, they focused more on the “large unidentifiable mass” since her arrhythMIA was a non-issue.
Baby Scare–Part II
Before I even got to my recovery room, the Neonatologist met with Adam and me to explain that our baby girl (not even an hour old yet) NEEDED to have a CT scan with contrast (which involves an ink injection and a TON of radiation). Again, wha-whaaaat?! She pretty much said that this is our only option for them to figure out what the “large unidentifiable mass” is. She said she would be back in the morning to discuss the matter further.
So, Miss Mia stayed in the NICU that first night, I was recovering and Adam went back home for a couple hours to check on Tyler (sadly, my little guy wasn’t able to visit me because children under 12 were not allowed in the Mother and Baby unit because of HINI precautions). So, Adam looked up Mia’s hospital records and researched her “condition.”
The following morning in the NICU, we met with the Neonatologist. Because Mia was asymptomatic and because we did NOT want to expose her to all that radiation, we decided against the CT scan with contrast (at least for the time being). This did not fly well with the Neonatologist and she and Adam were exchanging some words. She threw around some really serious and scary possibilities (requiring surgery) and said that she would not feel comfortable having Mia discharged until they were able to identify the mass (aka goomba). We were annoyed, pissed off, concerned, etc. So….I lost it and ended up bawling in the NICU. The Neonatologist finally backed off and said that she would double check with the head Pediatric Surgeon (who from what I gather is a well known and respected man in the medical community) for any other options. Alas, there was–he took a look at her films and suggested an MRI first, which was non-invasive. They did the MRI and found…..NOTHING. Her results came back completely NORMAL. No CT scan (or any other testing) needed! WHAT… A…. RELIEF!
I would say that aside from the baby scare, I had a really positive experience with her delivery. My c-section was easy-peasy. And I’m recovering so much better than the first time. I was up and walking that same night, discharged after 48 hours, off my narcotics (oxycodone) on day 5 and off Ibuprofen on day 7. I guess with Tyler at home, I had no choice but to recover FAST. I actually started feeling kind of normal after a week and a half. This time around, I did not have to wear compression stockings to control the swelling or wrist braces to stabilize my Carpel Tunnel Syndrome–yeah!
As for Mia….she is doing really well! She’s a much better sleeper than her big brother. We don’t think she looks like any of us! I think she might have Adam’s nose and long legs, my lips (like Tyler) and the two cutest dimples from who knows where. She’s so delicate and girly! We love the new addition to the Cabalo clan!
For additional photos, see MAC Birth Album.
