An update on my precious little Annabelle.

Today I had an ultrasound, the one that I have been waiting for, it was to check Annabelles heart and to plan her birth.

We have had it confirmed that she has a 'coarctaction of the aorta' which will need to be repaired within a week of her birth, we knew this was going to happen, there was a slim chance that it would widen but we pretty much knew that it would not. We also knew that she had a hole in the heart, we were told this is common and most likely she would not need it repaired, instead it will fix itself, well it turns out that it isn't going to fix itself and she will need to have this repaired as well. This now means that her surgery has gone from a less invasive surgery where the insition is under her arm to open heart surgery. I was not prepared for this.

If she was healthy enough we were going to allow her to choose her own birthday and atempt a VBAC if she looked like she was going to require special care from birth (which was the likely option) they were wanting to do a CS between 37 and 38 weeks.
It turns out that we will be having another CS, I will be arranging the date next Thursday, my precious little girl is going to be arriving in 3 to 4 weeks!

It is going to be tough but we will get through it. It is just going to be a little difficult juggling a CS a precious little baby in hospital and her beautiful big sister who still has so many medical problems that we are currently dealing with including upcoming surgery of her own. I am lucky to have a wonderful DH by my side though to help me and share this journey with.

Hugs hun we are all here for you, at least you have a plan now and you know what to expect and when so you can work around this.

Thinking of you and remember I am always here to chat too.

xoxo

Oh chick i have nothing to say but i couldnt read without posting. I am really sorry that you are going through this and i am sending alot of luck you way.
there is no doubt that this is going to be a dificult time for you, but just remember how much it will be worth it in the end!!
:hugs:

:hug: I am so sorry that the news wasnt better. :hug:

You know you have all of us by your side as well even if we are not there IRL we will be all thinking of you and trying to give Annabelle, you, DH and Matilda strength to get through those first few crucial wees for Annabelle. :hug:

Honey that's a lot to take in isn't it? :hug: I think you are incredible. You are dealing with so much. Take it a step at a time. I understand how daunting it feels to know that once she is born it will be action stations. Just know you can do this. That you have us all here from all over Australia (& the world!) barracking for her and you.
I am so glad you have a supportive and loving partner. :hug:

Daintree, you're such a strong cookie and Annabell will be too, just like her mummy (:
I :pray: that her hospital stay is a short one still :hug:

Been thinking about a lot over the last few days, wondering how you were... So sorry the news is not looking as good as you hoped for you and Annabelle. :hug: Hang in there. I am pleased you have a partner who is there for you and the girls, but know we are all here offering up our strength, courage, and love too... And please come on and let us know how you are doing, good or bad. xoxo

I wish I was closer to help you out.
Be strong xx

:hug: oh sweet big hug for you and i pray all will be ok :goodluck:

:hug:

awwwwww hun :hug: let me know if i can help out in any way at all
but yayayyyyyyyyyyyyy for meeting your baby girl!

Sorry the news was not better, but well done for being so positive and strong.

xx

Oh DD :comfort: Thinking of you and your family at this time and as always. Wishing you all the very best as you travel your journey together as a family. :hug:

DD :hug: Words can't express how much i admire your strength and love for your girls. you are an amzing woman. Thinking of you :hug:

Your strength is absolutely amazing and inspiring!! You are so amazing that yes your journey is going to be difficult but if anyone can do it you can!!

Lots and lots of these :hug: for you and your family !

You are one strong lady - take care. Thinking of you.

xoxoxoxo

:hug: What an inspriation! Your little Annabelle is very lucky to have such a strong, positive mummy :)

:hug:

Look DD - Annabelle's got a cheer squad a mile long and she doesn't know any of them yet :)

You and your little one and your whole family have the strength to get through this.

Thankyou everyone, knowing that I have support behind me does help alot.

I know that everything is going to be ok, I also know it is going to be alot harder this time as when Matilda was born I had no one to worry about but her, I spent every day, all day at the hospital for 3 months, I am concerned about how I am going to do this this time, I will have Matilda to care for and she is almost walking now, its not fair for her to have to sit around a hospital all day although she is used to it for all of her appointments, and I will be recovering from my CS... I just need to get through those first 2 weeks (which just happen to include Christmas, Matildas first Christmas that she will be aware of the festivities :()

Anyway, back to the positive me... we can and will do this!

:grouphug: Thankyou again, everyone.

I am so sorry to hear your little baby will be having such a surgery, but we are lucky we will in this day and age when these things can be repaired with little fuss. I wish you and your family all the best through this time. I have no doubt everything will be A OK, but be kind to yourself, it will be hard recovering from surgery, have your new arrival go through surgery and having another little girl that isn't so well. I hope you have the support of family and friends to make this time as easy as possible for yourself and DH.

:hug: They have some great things on in the hospital on Christmas Day, not the greatest place to be with your baby girls, but Christmas is about family and as long as you are all together, thats all that truely matters. Matilda wont even know that you're meant to open presents first thing in the morning, waiting until she gets to the hossy wont even fase her.

Another :hug: take care, wishing you all the best.

Sending you lots of love and strength :hug: xxx

Wishing you lots of love, and the very best of luck on the difficult journey you have ahead. Your little Annabelle is a fighter and you sound like you have lots of support from your DH and family. :goodluck::goodluck::goodluck:

:hug: I'm sorry the news wasn't better but you do have all of us supporting you as well as your wonderful family.

Which hospital will you be at?

I'm sorry the news wasn't better. Your strength is amazing!!!
Lots of :hug: and love to you and your family.

xox

I couldn't read this without posting.
Just sending you all my thoughts and prayers :hug:
Your little girl will get through this, especially with the strong, loving family she is welcomed by ;)

All my love
xx

DD, I am so sorry your going through this. Your precious little Annabelle is a fighter and will pull through. You can do this hun, you know you can. Sending lots of hugs and lots of love. I will be praying for a speedy recovery for you all. hugs For now hun try and be positive and enjoy these last few weeks you have being pg. Hang in there sweety. hugs

I'm so sorry you didnt get the news you were hoping for :hug:

Your strength is truely amazing, and we know you are going to be an amazing mother to both Matilda and Annabelle.

My thoughts and prayers are with you as always. Much love and hugs to you and your family xo

Daintree I'm sorry the news isn't better :hug:. Sounds like Annabelle will be up for the same surgery/ies that my son had.

I too had another little one to look after. DH and I took it in turns to be at the hospital with our son - I'd go early in the morning and stay till after lunch, then he'd travel down to the hospital later in the afternoon and stay until around 9pm.

We made sure we still did some of the "regular" things with our daughter, like going for a walk, a swim etc.

Christmas day was very hard, and I don't think there's any way to really "prepare" for that. Just know that the NICU/SCU staff are very attentive and decorate the spaces with Christmassy stuff. We went in and saw our baby early on Christmas day, and then took DD to a family Christmas gathering for lunch.

My parents lived about 40 mins away, and would come and entertain DD once a week so DH and I could spend time together with our son at the hospital - so if you have someone around that your DD will stay with, that will be a great help when the time comes.

The other incredibly handy thing was that people from our church cooked for us during that time, did our gardening and even drove us the 50 mins to the hospital and back when they saw we were wrecked. If you have a support network, don't be afraid to accept whatever help is offered - it will benefit you, DH, your DD and your bubba.

If you need any more specific info about what to expect, drop me a PM

:hug: I know this is hard.