My Genetic Appointment!

Today was probably the biggest “baby day” yet!!!

I knew that after we got back from vacation (which I will blog about later) that we would be kicking it into full gear . Well, today was FILLED with baby prep and we couldn’t be more excited.

First of all, I talked with the nurse this morning about a start-up date. End of July/beginning of August looks like THE TIME. It can’t come quicker. (I was getting fumble-fingers just typing that!) After my conversation with her, it was time to head to my genetic testing appointment!

Yup! I had it today! I wanted to be put on the cancellation list because I wanted to just get it done with. Well, someone had cancelled and a coworker of mine was willing to fill in for me while I made the trip up to Grand Rapids. Going into it, I had NO CLUE what to think – as in NO CLUE. When I got there, the counselor told me a “table of contents” of what we were going to talk about – I was okay with whatever because I had no clue what to even talk ABOUT.

Well, he explained in ENGLISH what my original heart problem was (WITH diagrams). Then, how that specific birth defect (for me), is multifactoral, which means there were many factors (not just one gene) that caused it. I believe it was God allowing it to happen – but in all reality too, they can’t narrow it down to one thing. I believe the reason they can’t narrow it down is because sometimes what God does is unexplainable. God knew I needed that in my life to make me (and continue to make me) into the person I am today.

They asked me a TON of questions regarding my health, especially around factors that may be “symptoms” of heart defects, such as learning disabilities. Apparently that is one of the big ones. I can’t even think of them all because there were so many.

So….

Because of the multi-factor issue, there is only a 3-5% chance our child(ren) would have any sort of heart defect. PRAISE GOD! We kind of knew that would be the case, but that’s even better than what we first thought! We thought 5% – we’ll take 3-5%!!! I have an appreciation for genograms and when they presented a big one and discussed my heart issue in regards to it, I was all ears.

Because I was there, they also talked about some other things in my family history that may be genetic issues, but nothing that was a show-stopper.

I expected to only be there a hour, but I was there for over a hour and a half, but I loved every moment of it. Who would’ve thought I would’ve said that? I was kind of dreading it when they first told me I had to go – I thought they were going to be pushy and want to do all this genetic testing. That was not the case AT ALL! They just presented different options with regards to other parts of my family history.

And as for the heart – sounds like we are golden! During the whole appointment, they asked multiple times if I understood what they were saying, if they could clarify anything, or if I had any questions. Every time they presented a new piece of info, they made sure I understood it clearly. They were WONDERFUL! It’s always a good feeling to walk out of a place and feel like they actually care!

Well, I got home and I had a call from the place that I will be getting my meds from! They are ordered and now just waiting for delivery! AHHHH!!!

And, the genetic clinic was glad to hear I was taking a prenatal vitamin. Oh how those words just excite me! They were telling me about all the benefits and how for me, it’s just a really good idea. Not that it was my idea in the first place. I don’t want to be a “wanna-be” and do all these things just to make it feel like I am the one carrying. But to be able to do something that is a part of the “pregnancy” process, is exciting.

So when I say it was a BABY day, it was a BABY day! And we can’t WAIT for MANY MORE to come!