Heart probs while pregnant

[Sebski]

I posted this over on WC but spend most of my time here now... hoping to get insight from anyone who has a heart prob and is/was pregnant. Did your heart trouble make your pregnancy more difficult the further you got into it?

I have Mitral Valve Prolapse (w/ regurgitation) and I notice that as I come up on the 1/2 way point that my heart is racing more often and I get short of breath more easily. I also started seeing 'stars' about a week ago. They come and go every once in awhile. I went in yesterday to talk to the doctor about the 'stars' and my blood pressure is ok, urine is ok and everything else seems fine. The symptoms I'm experiencing seem all too familiar with the ones I encountered when first diagnosed w/ MVP several years ago. I have another appt with my OB on Thursday (I saw a diff doc yesterday) and plan to talk to her about my concerns.

I'm just feeling like *something* isn't right (not baby-wise) and I'm wondering how other woman with similar problems faired with their pregnancies. I know that everyone is diff, and I am going back in to my doctor on Thursday... just looking for some perspective from other moms/moms to be. Thanks!

[jaredsgirl]

Ok, even though I did not have heart problems pre-pregancy, I'll post my experience. I am almost 18 weeks and I get heart racing (everyday almost), short of breath (everyday), and somedays dizziness and shakiness. I brought my concern up with the doctor (had talked to a different one the first time I experienced this) and he told me that it is completely normal to experience this during pg and there are no solid studies on why this happens but that many experience it. Granted, you do have the MVP, and they are probably more concerned about that, but hopefully they find out that it is just doing all that because of pregnancy and not that anything is happening due to the MVP.

[polkadot]

I had aheart arythmia when i was in college that caused me to have one seizure and many passing out spells w/ my heart racing out of control, or my heart rate dropping so low i would pass out....i eventually has an ablation done, when the medicine didnt help anymore...during the ablation the heat transfer from the lazer throught the electrode that made my heart race, to my av node, which from what i understand makes the bottom chamber of your heart beat. I know have a pacemaker. We are thinking about TTC but i am worried that i will be a very high risk pregnancy. My heart dr. said it wouldnt be a big deal and that i would go into labor like anyone else...my PP says that it would be high risk. I for one would rather not put any unnecessary stress on my heart but i dotn know who to believe...i guess i should talk to an OB and find out...just wondering if anyone out there has the same situation or generally the same...thanks

[Sebski]

Thanks for posting your experiences!

I'm so happy to hear that my symptoms can be considered typical and normal...

polkadot I too am concerned about the extra strain on the heart. My OB told me that everything should progress fine w/ my pregnancy. So far the baby is measuring big for his age, and we had the big u/s last week so we know that everything developed well. It's just taking a toll on *me*. I wish you luck in your TTC decision!

Hopefully my doctor will have some insight for me tomorrow other than "this is normal for women at your stage". While it's somewhat comforting to hear, it's frustrating because I want someone to fix it. ;)

[Toonces]

I have MVP too and experienced a lot of racing and fluttering feelings during my 1st trimester with DD. My OB referred me to a cardiologist who had me wear a hear monitor for 30 days (I think). Everytime I felt the fluttering and had to push a button on the monitor and then call it in to the doctor's office. They also did a heart u/s. Everything turned out fine and I didn't experience any problems in 2nd or 3rd trimester.

[Phen]

I have MVP and yes, I had some instances of extra-hard heart pounding during my pregnancy. My MVP is pretty mild, though (I only have to premedicate for dental work). The only way the MVP affected my pregnancy was I had to have anti-b's in my IV when I had my c-section.

I hope your OB can reassure you!

~ phen

[Ilovemygeek]

I do not have MVP, but I do have Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. Like polkadot, I had and ablation done but it was unsuccessful.

Since we are now TTC, I talked to both my OB/GYN and my cardiologist and they did have some concerns. I cannot take my normal medications while pregnant, so I will have to look into other options for treatment. My OB/GYN also said it might be a good idea to have a c-section rather than go through labor because the exertion might be dangerous for me and the baby. That would not be my first choice, but I will have to see how pregnancy effects my heart.

[polkadot]

i never met anyone else who had my same prob, except my dad...weird...my dad had the ablation done twice to correct his...the 1st ablation they couldnt find the right electrode and the 2nd one the did...he takes no meds now....i am also on no meds right now, what types of meds do you take if you dotn mind me asking?

[MrsWilson]

I do not have personal first hand experense, but I am a Cardiac nurse. I have worked on cardiac stepdown and in cardiovascular intensive care unit (where open heart surgery patients come up after the OR). I have seen a few pregnant women in the ICU for "monitoring," but none have been for MVP. One of them would go into V-tach (life-threatening heart rhythm). She was with us when she was 22 weeks and then during her c-section (I think around 36weeks.) Even she was allowed to go home and just be monitored closely by her OB and cardiologist. The other patient we had in the last 6 months or so had a biological disease. She was in the ICU because she was 30 years old and pregnant, and her life expectancy was 30 years. She did fine, but they wanted to "watch her." The biggest thing you have to remember is you have a lot more blood in your system and that is what the doctor's are going to be concerned about most likely. It will put some extra stress on the valve. Chances are, you will just be monitored closer. It depends on how bad the MVP is as to how closely they will monitor. I am not sure how much effect the extra hormones have, but they probably have some kind of effect. They will probably run a couple tests on you just to test how bad the MVP is and will most likely do some more testing over the months. Hope I made some sense.

[Ilovemygeek]

polkadot- I don't mind you asking at all! I take 100mg of Toprol once daily and was told to increase my sodium intake. The combination really has has helped. I have been doing this since my ablation in February.

Sorry for the hijack!