So later that afternoon …  at 4:45pm exactly, ( I’d been waiting by the phone since 9am ) I received a call from Terri Maitino, the Fetal Therapy Coordinator for my new perinatologist , Dr. Chmait ~the director of Fetal Therapy and Minimally Invasive Fetal Surgery for CHLA-USC. I would meet him Thursday.

After talking to Terri on the phone I immediately googled Dr. Chmait and was completely encouraged by the info I found. This man sounded like and is the GURU of fetal medicine.  A genius ~ I knew that I wasn’t just going to see a specialist, but an EXPERT. Not that any of this changes any of the concerns I have for my little Andrew, but I do feel like if anyone can help us he can.

So Thursday morning my mom, Josh and I made our way to West Hollywood, a 3.5 hour drive one way , my stomach in a huge knot the entire time …    when we arrived at his office we met Terri first and felt instantly welcomed.  They have such a small patient load that they have the ability to get to know each and every one of their patients on such a personl level , it’s amazing. First class care all the way.

Dr. Chmait came out and welcomed us, we followed him back to the exam room and  I had an hour long sonogram.  While he was taking measurements of Andrew he just stopped on the bladder and within minutes we watched him try and pee … the bladder contracted trying to push urine through the urethra before it hit a complete blockage and was sucked back into the bladder which in turn puts stress on the kidneys and it was then that he was diagnosed with a FETAL LOWER URINARY TRACT OBSTRUCTION.

Because Fetal surgery is so new and complicated you have to meet all the criteria necessary in order to be a candidate.  My case is a bit A typical because I made it so far a long in my pregnancy  with amniotic fluid … usually people who have fetus’s suffering from LUTO lose amniotic fluid very early on , as early as 13 weeks in some cases, so Dr. Chmait wanted me to have an out patient procedure done the same day called a cordocentesis { Under ultrasound guidance, a needle is placed in the umbilical cord. Fetal blood is drawn and sent for a serum Beta-2-microglobulin level. If the serum Beta-2-microglobulin level is less than 5.6 then fetal therapy may be offered. } He wanted to check Andrew’s chromosomes and kidney function. The results would determine our candidacy.

In a matter of like 2 hours I was downstairs in the ” operating room “  completley  preped  for an emergency c-section.  I was totally freaked.  I was in there all by myself with no type of pain medication because HELLO,  I’m pregnant and it’s not good for the baby !  So I was totally a wake and could feel and hear everything going on.  Terri, stayed with me threw the entire process , admissions, pre-op, did my catheter for me ( SO NOT COOL ) and kept me calm while they strapped me down on the table.  Dr. Chmait, genius that he is got in on the first try and was done in like 3 minutes !! THANK GOD !

Now we just wait for the results. And for Discovery Health to call …