Pediatric Surgeon Consult

Today we had our surgeon consult. Unfortunately, the doctor told us basically everything that we already know. The only main difference was his statistics. Also, he didn't touch any of the orthopedic issues, and said that we'll have to talk with an orthopedic doctor about them... another specialist. But Dr. Marr, the surgeon, told us that about 90% of gastroenteritis babies are able to have the primary closure, while Dr. Phillips said about 75% are able to have the primary closure. Dr. Marr also said that about 5-10% need to have another surgery while in the NICU because there might be an obstruction in the bowels, or a dead piece of intestine, or something else along those lines, and they have to go back in and try to correct it. 


Also, for the first week or so, they will feed Anabelle through an IV. I wondered about nutrition, since she won't actually be eating. Dr. Marr explained that she will receive all of the nutrition she needs through an IV inserted in either her arm or leg. The IV feedings will help her bowels and intestines recover from being either pushed all back in at once, or over a period of time. Then, whenever they think she's ready, they will try to start feeding her through a tube through her nose or throat, and as soon as she shows that she is tolerating those feeding then they will wean her off those to regular feedings. If she doesn't tolerate the tube feedings, and depending on the symptoms she shows, they're could be something wrong with her intestines, and that's when she would go back into surgery. 


Dr. Marr also said they will take Anabelle into surgery probably an hour or so after she's born to attempt the primary closure. He also said that he personally feels it is best for Anabelle to try to go to term, or as close to it as possible. This way we can avoid the other issues primary babies have, hopefully. 


Tomorrow, we have another follow up ultrasound, the bi-weekly appointment. The one at Sacramento Maternal Fetal Medicine where they check her growth and make sure her blood flow doesn't show any signs of anemia from the antibody issue. And hopefully they can answer a few more questions I have and offer some more guidance as to what to expect more exactly. I'd just like to narrow it down since about a month ago they didn't give Anabelle a fighting chance. And now that seems to have changed, so I am just looking for some answers as what we could possibly expect...


Again, thank you everyone for the continued love and support. We appreciate and love you all more then we can ever begin to explain. 


With love, 
The Polks