Dane has a PDA (no, not a blackberry)

Sometimes I feel like life goes two steps forward with one step back.... We found out today that Dane has a PDA (a patent ductus arteriosus). This is a relatively common congenital defect where the ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth. Prior to birth, it functions as a shunt allowing blood to flow from the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch, allowing the blood to bypass the lungs (which are not filled with oxygen prior to birth). Usually, after the baby is born this shunt naturally closes and forces blood to go to the lungs. If it doesn't close, as in Dane's case, deoxygenated blood bypasses the lungs and goes back to the systemic arterial circulation. This decreases the amount of oxygen available to the baby's body. The neonatologist believes that this decreased oxygen is why Dane was breathing harder than everyone would have liked yesterday (which caused them to put him on the high-flow room air by nasal cannula). The neonatologist found that Dane had a PDA by hearing a heart murmur and confirmed his suspicion with an echocardiogram. The treatment is often quite straightforward, using 3 doses of indomethacin spaced 12 hours apart, which causes the shunt to close. (Indomethacin is a NSAID, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, like aspirin or ibuprofen.) To give this medication, Dane got another IV (this time in his other arm) so that today he had both arms protected with boards - I thought he looked like he had little wings. Also, this was the first day that Dane got to wear clothes (vs. just his diaper and being wrapped in blankets)! Very exciting (more for us than him, I assume). Anyway, we thought it was fun that he was wearing an outfit (even if it was very large on him).


Also, Larissa thought it was great that I had the chance to change Dane's diaper today (Larissa hasn't yet done that...I would just like to point out that tomorrow will be her turn). Yippie...I imagine there will be many more chances to do that again.

This is another situation where I'm glad to have some medical background. I trust the doctors, but knowing that this is somewhat common and very treatable...it really helps. Feeling like we move two steps forward and one back can be frustrating and scary, but so far we've seen things working out. Keep praying for all three of us. Thanks! :)