A guide to CHD for new heart parents

Helping parents navigate the first year with their heart warriors, tube feeding, and raising Congenital Heart Defect awareness

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CHD

Mauve pink graphic with baby bottle, g-tube button, and strawberry outline icons

FEEDING

Outline of mom crouching beside toddler for a kiss

MOM LIFE

Dear New Heart Mama

A letter for the heart mom whose baby was recently diagnosed with a hole in their heart or another Congenital Heart Defect

Newborn NICU baby hand holding adult finger

Heart Mom Life

Bonding with my third baby was not the same

After restlessly waiting 9 long months, panting through labor and pushing through delivery, the moment finally arrives. The nurses grandly present your gorgeous newborn baby to you to hold and meet for the very first time and you feel like you’re going to explode with love. It’s a nice story,…

CHD Parent Guides | Open Heart Surgery

Lines and Tubes and Beeps, oh My!: A Baby After Open Heart Surgery

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! What’s the equally alarming, open heart surgery version? Lines and tubes and beeps, oh my! We’re discussing the various wires, tubes, lines, machines, beeps, and more that you might see in the cardiac intensive care unit attached to your baby after open heart…

A mother gently kisses the head of her baby, who is wrapped in a dark chambray carrier. The baby has a pink heart-patterned tube tape and a nasogastric (NG) tube on their cheek, and looks directly at the camera.

Heart Mom Life | Open Heart Surgery

I’m not ready, but I have to be because I am a Heart Mom

We’re getting closer. I try to stick to the nuts and bolts, but my heart and soul so easily weep. I have to hand you over again soon, too soon. And I have to trust and let you go because I am a Heart Mom. I never anticipated joining the…

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Meet Jessica

Inspired by her warrior daughter born with critical Congenital Heart Defects, heart mom, Jessica, founded Our Modern Familee.

She cared for her through two open-heart surgeries, NG tube feeding, and all that Congenital Heart Disease involves.

Now, Jessica shares her experiences and expertise to guide new CHD parents through the tough first year with their medically complex heart babies.

Mom with dark curly hair wearing rust brown dress with ruffles and chiffon, smiling in a park - Jessica Lee, CHD blog, heart mom

25%

of CHD babies need heart surgery or interventions before they turn 1 year old

40,000

babies are born with CHD every year in the United States

80%

approximately 80-85% of CHD cases have no known reason

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