the tables could have been turned...

Did you know that for 1 in 10 babies born with a heart defect, it's a fatal one? Maddie IS that 1...without intervention, she would have died within a few hours or days after birth. We were fortunate to have been prenatally diagnosed but there are many families out there who bring home their new baby, thinking all is well and they are left broken hearted and wondering why when their baby suddenly passes away. If you are pregnant or know someone who is...take these 6 questions with you to your mid-pregnancy ultrasound.

1. Do you see 4 chambers in the baby's heart?
2. Are there two upper chambers (atria) each with a valve controlling blood flow out of them?
3. Are there two lower chambers (ventricles) each with a valve controlling blood flow out of them?
4. Do the two vessels leaving the heart cross each other as they exit?
5. Is there an intact wall between chambers?
6. Is everything else with the heart look normal?

From experience, most ultrasound techs prefer to not answer questions as they work but by even just asking these, it may make them pay a little closer attention as they scan away. Once your baby is born, ask for Pulse Oximetry Testing. It is not mandated in every state and it's not a routine test in Washington State. It's painless, cheap and takes only a few minutes. Most importantly, the reading of your baby's oxygen levels can pinpoint the most severe, fatal heart defects. 

Lastly, CHD can effect anyone. We have no family history of heart defects and most of the time, it's not genetic. A perfectly, healthy pregnant mother who did everything 'right' can still give birth to a baby with a broken heart. It happened to us. So after you bring your baby home from the hospital, here are some signs to watch for...

1. Does your baby tire easily during feeding?
2. Is your baby cold to the touch?
3. Does your baby sweat around his forehead?
4. Is your baby turning blue, especially around the mouth, nose, and on his hands and feet?
5. Is your baby having trouble feeding?

Unfortunately, a vast majority of CHD's are undetected before a baby is born. Remember, CHD is the #1 birth defect, affecting 40,000 births in the United States and 1 million worldwide each year. It is the leading cause of all infant deaths in the United States, yet despite great advances in screening and diagnoses, a vast majority are still left undetected and can go unnoticed for a long time, well until heart damage has progressed to cause symptoms. A child may be in his 20's-30's before learning of her heart defect or may collapse on the field or court, sending her to the ER to learn that she was born with a CHD. Many parents don't learn of their child's heart condition until after reading the coroners report. Raise Awareness...Spread Hope!