VUR

Hi Maya,

VUR will now become a known acronym in our household. It stands for Vesico-ureteral reflux.  You had your study today where they put a catheter in your bladder and then fill your bladder with a special fluid that shows up on an xray. They then watched on the xray as you emptied your bladder. This showed that not only did the fluid leave your bladder and go out your bottom it also went upward toward your kidneys. This is not normal. It means you have a problem where your ureters (the tubes that connect your kidneys to your bladder) and bladder meet. Because of this reflux you are at risk to have recurrent infections of your urinary system. There are 5 grades of reflux and unfortunately you have grade 4. This means you need to be on daily antibiotics for the next year in attempt to prevent further infections. They will then repeat your VCUG (vescio-uretero-gram) in one year. If your reflux hasn't improved you may need surgery to fix it. 

Although your dad and I wish you didn't have any health issues, things could be worse! This is a treatable problem. You are not a sick kid, you are a healthy kid with a little plumbing issue! Hopefully you will tolerate your antibiotics, because you have to be on them for at least a year. You will be on amoxicillin until you are two months old and then you will be switched to septra.

 I had my post-partum appointment today and everything looks good. Overall you didn't cause too much damage to my body! It wouldn't matter because it was all worth it!

As stressful and exhausting the last week has been, I am doing my best to try to appreciate all the "little moments" with you. Your smiles, when you get your arms and legs kicking, when you coo or make any other new and fun noises! I know you are going to grow up fast and I don't want to look back and think "I wish I had enjoyed the baby stage more".

Once again, you have been such a trooper through all of this and I am so proud and impressed with you!