thump, thump, skip

Hello, readers!  Hello from week 21 of pregnancy, big bellied, hungry appetite again with more energy than first trimester but much less strength and coordination.  I had the 20 week ultrasound on Wednesday.  The good news is that Wrigley is growing perfectly, moving a LOT (to the point of the ultrasound taking extra time because he wouldn't hold still.)  The bad news is that his arrhythmia has come back.  His heart is intermittently skipping beats again, as it did at the 8 week ultrasound.  The heart structure and blood flow appeared fine on the ultrasound, so I am being sent to a pediatric cardiologist to pinpoint why this is happening.

I've also been transferred from the nurse-midwives back to the care of the high-risk OB/GYN, which I don't mind because I really like her a lot.  I feel better having a doctor monitor the pregnancy than the nurse-midwives, if there is something atypical going on.  I like being at UCLA where all the of the specialists I need are nearby.

From what we have ascertained through reading medical journals and googling, it seems that this problem is fairly common in 14% of pregnancies and might resolve itself (we thought it did, though, when the beat was regular at the 10 week ultrasound) or worst case, I might have to be admitted to the hospital and administered IV drugs and closely monitored to regulate the heart, and/or Wrigley might need to take heart medication the first few months of his life.  I don't know when this would happen.  Well, certainly not until after July 6, when my first appointment for the fetal echocardiogram is scheduled.

It's scary but also quite powerful to know that if he does have a heart problem, it could be fixed at such an early age, and I feel very fortunate to be at one of the best hospitals in the country and to have this diagnosis now.  Imagine that this might prevent him from having a heart attack when he's 40, if we can get his heart in tip-top shape now. 

In the midst of all this, I'm doing an interesting project at work, requiring some focus and concentration, and that nesting instinct is kicking in at home, requiring me to clean out Lauren's old baby clothes and make space for Wrigley's.  But it's been a lot to deal with all at once, and that, my friends, is the reason I haven't been very social this past week, and you may see even less of me in the coming weeks.  Invite me out, still, but understand if I'm not jumping to the phone when you call.