https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 13:51:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904910 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 21:03:49 +0000 nwm 2904910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: wow, ok thank you so much! i feel like the drs. i was speaking to were a lot more vague about what possible courses of action would be considered after the next visit so this is a helpful perspective to hear. of course i'm kicking myself for not asking a thousand more questions i've thought of since, but we'll be back to the doctor soon enough. my son's murmur was pretty loud and they were definitely observing backflow, but his oxygen levels were apparently quite good so hopefully it stays that way and intervention remains unlikely! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904592 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 10:46:20 +0000 MsMini 2904592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: they won’t intervene if it’s not causing issues, and the VSD has to be pretty big to require surgery! My daughter’s has a good amount of backflow through it but not enough to cause her issues. If it doesn’t require surgery right away they generally don’t ever require intervention. They don’t even suggest prophylactic antibiotics for stuff like dental work anymore. The only real “difference” is that my daughter has never had a measured O2 sat over 97%. She used to turn blue when she cried as a small baby but that even resolved within a couple months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904571 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 07:02:23 +0000 nwm 2904571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: @LemonJack: @karenbme: thank you!! :heart: :heart: </p> <p>@MsMini: @Corduroy: wow that is very helpful to hear. I assumed that if it wasn’t small enough to close on its own that we would require intervention but sounds like as long as he stays stable that maybe we’ll just continue to watch it? So glad that you both saw such limited impact—thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904513 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 19:05:30 +0000 Corduroy 2904513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: Hugs! I don't know anything about it from a parenting perspective but I was diagnosed with a VSD as a baby. Similar to @MsMini:'s LO I had testing when I was in 1st grade (still had the murmur) and then again in middle school (I don't recall if I had it or not still). Outside of the two rounds of testing it didn't have any impact on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904490 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:49:08 +0000 karenbme 2904490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry to see you’re going through this. Fingers crossed it resolves on its own. I’m sure the next few weeks are going to be really tough though. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904470 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 14:59:41 +0000 MsMini 2904470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My middle daughter was diagnosed with a VSD at birth. She had high oxygen requirements in the first day and borderline O2 sats once she was weaned off of O2. Hers was borderline large enough for surgery but she maintained hemodynamic stability so we watched and waited. She is 5 now, has a massive whooping murmur, never had surgery and unless you knew the VSD was there you would never see her as any different than any other kids. She does sports, keeps up with her siblings no problem. At this point it’s unlikely to ever cause her issues. We do have to watch her with respiratory infections a bit more, but she hasn’t required hospitalization other than her NICU stay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904438 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 12:37:05 +0000 LemonJack 2904438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: No experience here, but I’m thinking of you. How scary! It is good news your doctor was on top of it and caught it so quickly. ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904437 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 12:32:32 +0000 LCTBQE 2904437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: no experience but :heart: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904421 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 11:06:54 +0000 nwm 2904421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you so much ladies!! I really appreciate your messages. I am so glad to hear of all these positive outcomes and just praying we end up in the same place :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904397 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:39:19 +0000 graceandjoy 2904397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have nothing I can add, but want to let you know we are here! :heart: Will keep this bumped up for visibility! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904395 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:37:27 +0000 Ajsmommy 2904395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: @missyoori: ps kudos to your nurses and dr's for hearing/catching the murmur so soon!! That's great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904394 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:35:48 +0000 Ajsmommy 2904394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs mama!! You've obviously seen my post and experience regarding this. You are a million steps ahead of us in that you already know and can be on the look out for any symptoms. From experience, you'll know something is up. And if you suspect something is up but aren't sure take him in anyway. Better safe than sorry.</p> <p>As for us.... after that initial scary episode my DS has been thriving and doing wonderful. We have no issues at all. He is small on the % scale but he continues to grow and he's a wild man.. like legit boy JUMPING RUNNING CLIMBNG THROWING HITTING and he runs around the neighborhood with all the other kids and doesn't miss a step. So hopefully your DS's vsd will pose no issues either. </p> <p>But in these early stages I'd just say keep an eye on him :) feel free to pm me with any questions or anything.. or just tag me here :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904388 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 08:55:28 +0000 missyoori 2904388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am so sorry mama, I know how anxious you must feel! My youngest was diagnosed with a VSD within her first week, and I remember how terrified I was. Long story short, the VSD closed up by the time she was 1. :)</p> <p>The 3rd day after birth, a resident took her for just another routine check-up... but didn't come back. After 45 minutes, I freaked and demanded they return my baby. At that point, she told me that she thought she had heard a murmur, and she was trying to get the baby to calm down long enough to listen better. We scheduled a follow-up with our pediatrician, and she also heard a very slight murmur. At that point, we were referred to cardiology, and the ped cardiologist did the EKG/EEG to discover she indeed had a VSD. But they said it was the best type of worst news! It was a super tiny hole right in between the valves, and the likelihood of it closing on its own was extremely high. The ped cardi told us we didn't have to do anything differently or watch for anything in particular while she was an infant. I kept an eye on her breathing (especially at night) for the first couple months, but nothing alarming ever presented. We had a check-up at 6 months, where the ped cardi just listened. He could barely hear the murmur, so he did not feel the need to repeat the testing. At 12 months, we did get another round of testing, and the VSD had completely closed up. We were given the all-clear, and we don't even need to have cardiology check-ups as she grows up. He said she may not be able to become an all-star athlete, but she can still play sports, run around, just be a kid--basically we don't have to watch out for anything. If an alarming symptom pops up, then we'd go to the hospital like with any other worrisome medical situation.</p> <p>*hugs* mama, you'll get through this!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904386 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 08:52:56 +0000 Ms. RV 2904386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am so sorry :heart: CHDs are so scary.</p> <p>I have no experience with VSD in particular, but any blueness or extra fatigue (being like a doll when they are that young) are general CHD red flags.</p> <p>I suggest you look into Mended Little Hearts (mendedhearts.org). They can put you in touch with parents who have a LO who has had the same issue to ask questions and what not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vsd-diagnosisexperience#post-2904353 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 21:57:05 +0000 nwm 2904353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today’s routine weight check for our little two week old DS turned into a surprise visit to the pediatric cardiology unit at the hospital and a diagnosis of VSD, ventricular septal defect. Right now they just have us keeping a close eye on him and his weight gain, and we’ll go back in four weeks when his heart will be more developed and they can determine how serious it is and what treatment will be needed.</p> <p>Feeling very grateful our doctor heard a murmur and had us follow up so we could catch this early, but nervous for what the next few weeks will bring. Would love to hear from anyone else who has experienced a VSD diagnosis and in particular what signs and symptoms you kept a close watch on if you were monitoring it—right now my biggest fear is that it will suddenly worsen and we won’t notice the signs fast enough (though we’re obviously on high alert). @ajsmommy I saw your psa post on this and the list of symptoms was really helpful. </p>