1-15-10 through 1-18-10 PDA, Echo

1-15-10
Doctors think that both girls have heart murmors **PDA'S, which is why they are having blood pressure issues. they will do an *Echo of their hearts tomorrow
Elizabeth weighs 1 pouns 3 oz and Riley is 1 pound 3.5 oz. Elizabth is still not eating but both girls are doing good considering...

1-16-10
The *Echo showed both girls DO have **PDA'S but the doctors said not to worry that it is usually fixable without surgery.

1-17-2010
NOW THEY ARE SAYING THEY DO NOT HAVE HEART MURMORS.....

and Riley is off of her UV lamp so we can finally see her face...no more plastic!...no more face mask!

1-18-10
Riley is off of the jet ventilator and on a conventional ventialator like her sister!!
They both weigh 1 pound 5 oz now! Growing girls :)
AND no one is on Dopamine!!................Overall BEST DAY OF THEIR LIVES SO FAR!

Echocardiogram (“Echo”)

Ultrasound picture of the heart. This is a painless, non-invasive procedure that takes accurate pictures of almost all parts of the heart. Many preemies have a cardiac ultrasound if the doctor is looking for evidence of a patent ductus arteriosus.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Before birth, this vessel allows the baby's blood to bypass the lungs because oxygen is supplied by the mother through the placenta. The ductus arteriosus should close soon after birth. If it does not, it is called a patent (open) ductus arteriosus, or PDA. A PDA may be treated either with medication or surgery.

http://www.ttmf.org/glossary_p-t.html