Last night around 7pm I started having some intense contractions. Nothing that seemed to alarming to send me to the hospital, but they were really uncomfortable. They seemed to come every 10-15 minutes and happened throughout the night, and continued this morning. When I got to work they were a little more uncomfortable and suggested to one of my coworkers/friends that something didn't seem right. I had just left my OB a message about some other stuff, but my girlfriend told me this was something I shouldn't take lightly. Before I knew it, the triage nurse told me to come in to see my doctor right away. I thought I was leaking amniotic fluid. Luckily, I was not and my cervix is closed (thank god). The only alarming thing now is that my stomach is measuring at 37 weeks, full term. I went from 34/35 week measurement last Thursday to additional 3 week growth. Nonetheless, I look like I'm ready to pop. My body could be reacting to the excess amniotic fluid and thinking that I'm farther along than I truly am, hence the contractions. OB sent me on my way to meet with all the surgeons for Zoe, and I'll see him next week for another check up.
The first surgeon we met with was Dr. Madonna. She's the pediatric surgeon who will be doing Zoe's bowl obstruction. As long as the heart defects are not life threatening, Zoe will be taken from the delivery room to the NICU floor at Prentice. She'll then get ready to be transferred to Children's NICU floor. Depending on the exact bowl obstruction, will depend on the day of surgery (could be day 1 or the 2nd or 3rd day of life). She told us to expect Zoe's length of stay to be 6-8 weeks if it was just the bowl obstruction. If she's a premie or any heart defects need attention, could be longer. That broke my heart. She congratulated me on making it to 30 weeks. She said I will not make it to 37/38 weeks due to the bowl obstruction. My goal is to have Zoe stay put until 34/35 weeks, then I will be happy. I just can't imagine the size of my belly in a month's time. I already get asked if I'm having twins.
The next surgeon we met with was Dr. Backer, the cardiac surgeon. Depending on if anything changes until birth, will depend on the type of surgery. If she doesn't have the Coarctation of the Aorta and there are no other life threatening defects, she will not need heart surgery right away. If that does exist, that will happen after her bowl obstruction surgery (not immediately). And depending on if her AV Canal Defect is "complete" or "partial/intermediate" will depend on when the surgery is done. Complete = 4-5 months, partial = 18 months.
The last doctor we met was the Netonatalogist, Dr. Porta. He went over all the logistics of the NICU team, the floor, etc. What will happen with the transport, when i'll be able to hold her, etc. There was a lot of information today, but it was really reassuring meeting the heads of the team for Zoe.
Next up is our next fetal echo on Monday the 12th and I only hope nothing new pops up and the rest of my time being pregnant is just being monitored.
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