Aware

Did you know that congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect? I bet your OB/GYN didn't share that with you, huh? Did you also know that a pulse oximetry test, a quick, non-invasive test that can be done in the hospital, is the best way to quickly detect CHD? Unfortunately for a friend of mine on Twitter, @kristinebrite, she didn't know either of those little facts and because of that, she lost her daughter Cora just days after she was born.

It's so senseless that so many babies die because of this. Why don't hospitals make the test mandatory? I mean, they spend hours pricking babies' feet with needles to take blood for testing, why can't they attach something to their finger for a few seconds to test the oxygenation of hemoglobin? It's so simple - even more so than doing a finger prick to test blood sugar.

This week is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness week, so I want to spread the word about it. If you or someone you know is pregnant, please ask for this test (the pulse oximetry, or pulse ox, test) before being discharged from the hospital. It takes seconds and can save lives.



Also, be sure to check out Cora's Story. Kristine is working hard to turn the social media world upside down to raise awareness. Spread the link and spread the love.