FAQs

We have gotten a lot of questions (which is great) and we thought that we would post some of the most common questions with answers here so that everyone can be in the know.  If you see a question here you asked, don’t worry!  It means that many other people also wanted to know this.  If you have some other questions for us, please feel free to ask.  Sometime the questions people ask help us to get more information!

                      

Q:  Does the baby’s heart condition have any effect on the pregnancy?

A:  Nope.  I do have to see the high risk obs at U of M because one of them will deliver our baby girl.  But while our baby girl is in the womb she is perfectly safe, growing and developing well.  Since the heart functions differently while you are in the womb (because you are not breathing with your lungs), her heart condition does not do anything to affect her or me.  I do not have any extra restrictions on me, even though husband keeps joking he wants to put me on bed rest.  It is important that she is full term though.  If she comes early, she will have a more difficult start to life.  It is a good thing that the majority of babies in my family are big!

Q:  Do the doctors have any idea why her heart did not develop?

A:  Unfortunately, they have no idea as there is no know cause.  It can really happen to any one.

Q:  Are you more likely to have another baby with a heart condition?

A:  There is an increased risk for us to have another child with a left-sided heart problem.  The chances are estimated to be around 5-9%, which are increased from the general population but not extremely high.

Q:  Is there anything I can do to help?

A:  We appreciate your prayers and support, which helps us more than you know.  Of course, once our baby girl arrives, we will need some extra help, but you can still help now.  Please donate blood and encourage others to do so as well!  You could be helping our little baby girl with your donation!