Allen: Two Week Appointment

Last Wednesday we took Allen for his two week wellness check up. He did well. He was 21 inches long (his birth height), which put him in the 50-75 percentile, while his weight was 8.1 lbs, which was over his birth weight and which put him in the 25-50 percentile.

Upon listening to his lungs with a stethoscope, Dr. Madden detected a slight heart murmur, which sounded like a ventricular septal defect (VSD), which is a small hole between two heart chambers, a relatively common abnormality in infants. Dr. Madden didn't sound too alarmed about it but, nevertheless, referred us to a Childrens' Hospital cardiologist, whom we saw the following day at Holy Cross.

Apparently, VSD can't be detected right after birth because blood flow pressure between the chambers is low so the blood flow doesn't make a sound. (We wondered why the Georgetown pediatrician who checked Allen both days we were in the hospital and Dr. Madden's colleague, who checked him on his third day, couldn't hear it.) However, after a few weeks, blood flow pressure is higher in one chamber than in the other, and that's the sound that becomes audible.

First, Allen was weighted. He was 8.2 lbs, which was his actual weight without the diaper and post-poop. (He pooped in Andy's hands--four separate blowouts, which I've told Andy about but he had never experienced--as we were taking off his diaper.) Then they did an EKG, for which he wouldn't be still. Then, they did an echogram, for which he was very calm and focused. The room was dark with one sole lamp over the sink. I think he was mesmerized by that light.

The echogram confirmed that there is a small hole between the two lower chambers. The cardiologist also heard it (although his nurse couldn't). However, he didn't seem alarmed either. The hole is small, and he thought it would close on its own. (For larger holes, the treatment can involve medication or surgery.) Also, it doesn't mean that it will restrict Allen's life in anyway.

We obviously we surprised to learn this and aren't happy about it. But I'm trying to follow the doctors' suite and not be too alarmed about it. However, I'm beginning to get concerned that I'm too nonchalant about it and that I ought to be more concerned about it.

We're going back in two months for a follow up check-up. Depending what the doctor says then, I'll adjust my anxiety level.