Echo Eve

Today I have spent time following up with various doctors about paperwork, test results and insurance coverage in preparation for our next fetal echocardiogram tomorrow morning.

I spoke with our PCP and he said that the results from my echocardiogram on Saturday were “okay.” I asked if okay was bad and he said no. He said he didn’t see anything significant that would make him think it wouldn’t be safe for me to take Terbutatline, if and when we might need to decide whether or not we want to go that direction with Molly. Our PCP did tell me that my echocardiogram showed “left ventricular entropy” (i.e. an enlarged heart), however he felt strongly that it was related to my pregnancy and nothing to be concerned about. I did a Google search after talking with him and did confirm that it is normal for a pregnant woman’s heart to enlarge during her pregnancy due to the increase in the amount of blood that it is pumping to supply the baby with oxygen. On About.com’s Pregnancy and Childbirth page it said:

Your heart is increasing its output to supply the baby with oxygen. Your enlarged heart is pumping about 20% more blood than prepregnancy (at 15 weeks gestation). This volume will actually increase throughout your pregnancy for an ending increased heart output of 30-50%.

So I am relieved to know that our PCP, based on reviewing the results of my EKG and Echocardiogram, thinks it would be safe for me to take Terbutaline, especially going into our appointment tomorrow, in case Molly’s heart has begun to fail. I think the more knowledge we can have if and when we have to decide passive vs. aggressive the better.

I also touched base with our insurance company, an HMO, in regards to our benefits/coverage as it would relate to Molly if she were to make it to birth alive and need multiple heart surgeries and/or a transplant. I was very pleased to learn that any and all surgeries, including transplants that Molly might need would be covered completely! The woman I talked with did say that our primary doctors (OB/GYN and Molly’s pediatrician) would have to continue to write referrals and make sure they were approved along the way, however everything should be covered. We feel very blessed and lucky to know that going forward and are especially grateful that Bob’s company’s HMO insurance is so great and covers so much!

So it was not the most exciting day, but certainly informative. I often find “Echo Eves,” the nights before Molly’s fetal echocardiograms, to be some of the hardest days and nights of this pregnancy. The anticipation at this point really starts to get to me as I try to prepare for what might happen the next day. I always seem to come back to Bob’s approach which is to “prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” However, I sometimes I just let my mind runaway thinking about what we will do, how we will handle it, if tomorrow morning we find out that Molly’s heart has begun to fail. This pregnancy surely has been an emotional roller coaster, with lots of down time in between the peaks and drops. It’s hard for me to believe that Molly and I together have actually made it to 20 weeks gestation. I find this particular milestone encouraging; however I don’t know that it really will make that much difference in whether or not she survives.

Thank you, as always, for your comments, emails and phone calls. Please keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming. I will post an update at some point tomorrow, after we know the latest on Molly’s heart condition. Take care and May God bless you and yours.