Much better news today! So much better than expected.
The cardiologist studied our baby's heart through ultrasound for a long time this morning, and here's what we know now:
- There is an arrythmia, but no evidence of heart failure at this time -- great great news!
- The right atrium is pumping almost twice as fast as the right ventricle, so there are two heart rates: on Tuesday it was 70 and 130 and today it was about 130 and 237 (so that's better, even though the top and bottom of the heart are out of sync).
- Structurally, the heart looks good -- fantastic news! All of the chambers, valves, arteries, and veins are fine; one chamber is slightly enlarged and the flow-rate between two isn't quite right, but they believe both are due to the high rate of pumping.
- There is a fetal cardiac problem, but the problem is not organic (i.e., structural), it's a problem with the conductive system (but they don't know why).
- They don't think the baby will need a pacemaker because the heart hasn't been damaged.
- My blood test results are not back yet, but they think anti-Lupis and anti-Ro antibodies are unlikely (yeah! that means I'm not sick).
- They don't think there's any reason to take this baby early (I'm so relieved!), so hopefully, I will carry the baby to term and go into labour spontaneously.
- In the meantime, I can carry on with normal activity, but not over do it.
- I have to take a drug called Digoxin for the rest of the pregnancy, starting with a high dose today (0.5 mg this morning and 0.25 mg this afternoon, then 0.125 once a day for two months); basically, they hope this will normalize the baby's heart rate.
- Every Thursday from now on, I will have an ultrasound and see both the doctor specializing in high-risk pregnancies and a pediatric cardiologist.
- I still may have to deliver the baby in Edmonton, just in case.
