PDA and IUGR

[Mummybearof4]

Hey everyone!

I'm so worried about my 11 week old son! I was induced just before 37 weeks due to him being an IUGR baby and weighed 5lb exactly. He had Polycythemia (thick blood) and was sent down to special care. He was put on a drip for 24hrs to thin it out. After that it was just a case of sorting out his jaundice (double light therapy) and we were sent home.

We had his 8 week check where we were referred to the pediatrician department as they weren't happy with his colour (going really red when stretching, pooing etc). And he wasn't smiling. He has been growing and gaining weight well.

We had the appointment yesterday. They found a heart murmur which was heard mostly in the back. His oxygen levels were also low which was why he has been going so red. They did an echocardiogram where they found an PDA. They didn't say how open it was only that they're referring us to London.

Since then he's been sleeping even more. Only waking for feeds which he doesn't even finish anymore. He's still not smiling.
Has anyone else been through this? So worried for my baby

 

[IchigoMewMew]

I've not been through this myself but didn't want to read and run. Have you reveived an appointment from London? It's hard to know until he's assessed by a surgical team whether he will require full surgery or a catheter procedure, sometimes they will do a 3D echo to help them plan. My cousin had a large VSD closed as an infant and had no problems since I believe PDAs are the least likely defect to cause continuing problems or greatly lower adult life expectancy once fixed. It must be very scary for you but he's been referred to the best place and will be in excellent hands. Have they given him any diuretic meds? We would ask adult heart patients to reduce their fluid intake but obviously not an option for a baby!

 

[Koifish]

My one little guy had a PDA and PFO, one resolved after 3 months (PDA if I remember correctly) the other took a little longer. He didn’t go to a specialist until he was close to one for a check up on it and both were resolved at this point. He never had noticeable symptoms from either however he had a lot of issues so I am not sure the symptoms from either would have ever outshined his other condition and surgical needs. Of the two heart issues neither seemed to be a concern to the hospital but they watched them both. They were not all that concerned about the PDA for the 3 months he was there and said it’ll likely close on its own eventually, which it did. If it doesn’t close then surgery is needed to close it, but they did not see it as a big deal.