Theresa, you don't mention where in the heart the hole is, but usually
it is a VSD (ventral septal defect) or an ASD (atrial septal defect).
Each of them refers to a hole between two chambers of the heart.  When
this occurs, "backwash" of the blood flow causes excess work for the
heart and some of the blood gets recirculated without benefit of passing
through the lungs for oxygenation.  The heart must work far harder just
to maintain life.  If the hole is of sufficient size, just the work of
nursing (or bottle feeding) can put too much extra work on the heart,
therefore, you feed the baby in a way that requires no work by the
baby(gavage).  Usually, in a defect this severe, the repair is scheduled
fairly quickly.  These kids do very well, most can nurse in recovery if
the surgeon is OK with it.
Denny

--

Denny Rice, RN, IBCLC
Dallas Texas USA

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