Pregnant Stassi Schroeder: Unborn Daughter Has ‘Hole in Heart’
Former Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder has not been secretive about how eagerly she and fiancé Beau Clark are anticipating
Ivy Griffith
Former Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder has not been secretive about how eagerly she and fiancé Beau Clark are anticipating the birth of their unborn baby girl. However, the reality star has opened up about a terrifying experience; learning that her precious unborn daughter has a hole in her heart.
Stassi and Beau Can’t Wait for Baby
Back in June, Schroeder’s rep revealed the news that she and Clark would be welcoming baby number one; “Stassi and Beau will be welcoming their first child the first week in January. [They are] grateful and eager to begin the next chapter of their lives as parents.”
An insider told Life & Style, “[They are] are ‘very focused on preparing for the arrival’ of baby No. 1.’
The former Bravo star, 32, is ‘really committed’ to ‘being the best new mom possible’ to their baby girl, adds the insider. ‘Stassi is taking excellent care of herself and spending time reading up on everything.’”
The Scariest Week of Their Lives
Life & Style shares Schroeder’s words about discovering their daughter’s heart defect; “‘…we discovered she has a hole in her heart, and it was the worst week of our lives waiting to find out just how serious it was,’ the former podcast host wrote via Instagram on Thursday, October 1. ‘After a week of actual hell on earth, the doctors said it’s incredibly small [and] should heal on its own.’”
While it sounds terrifying, and the experience of going through it when your child is diagnosed can be life-altering, holes in the heart are not particularly rare. According to Mayo Clinic, the most common type of hole in the heart in babies is a Ventricular Septal Defect, or VSD. “A ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the heart, is a common heart defect that’s present at birth (congenital). The hole (defect) occurs in the wall (septum) that separates the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart. The oxygen-rich blood then gets pumped back to the lungs instead of out to the body, causing the heart to work harder.
A small ventricular septal defect may cause no problems, and many small VSDs close on their own. Medium or larger VSDs may need surgical repair early in life to prevent complications.”
While Schroeder didn’t specify the type of heart defect her daughter is living with, an estimated 1.5% of people live with VSD, or did at one point and outgrew it.
A Nursery Picture Becomes a Symbol of Hope
Before they even knew their precious girl had a hole in her heart, Schroeder spent a lot of time and thought decorating a dream nursery for her baby. In late September, Life & Style reports that Schroeder showed off their impending bundle of joy’s impressive wardrobe; “‘I’m a monster who is creating another monster,’ she said in a short Instagram video while showing off her daughter’s closet full of clothes, shoes and accessories. ‘This poor baby has no clue.’”
But it was one piece of nursery décor that would prove a source of strength in the coming weeks and months. Before she even knew her daughter would have a hole in her heart, Schroeder bought a beautiful piece of nursery art that showed a heart made of sparkly butterflies. In one corner of the heart, a hole has opened and the butterflies are flying out of it.
Without their daughter’s diagnosis, it would have just remained a beautiful piece of art. However, once they discovered what she was dealing with, Schroeder posted on an Instagram Story a video of the beautiful art, saying, “…This piece of art means so much more now.”
The Rest of the Pregnancy Will be an Anxious Wait
Even though the doctor has reassured Schroeder that her daughter’s heart will heal itself, it will be a nerve-wracking wait until delivery. Once you find out that something is wrong with your baby, all you want to do is hold them and lay eyes on them. Schroeder still has to wait until the first week of January to meet her precious baby, and that’s going to feel like an eternity. However, all fingers are crossed that baby girl’s heart will be all healed and ready for her big debut in the new year.