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Pregnancy and Birth Control with a Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome patient
An_246119 posted:
I am a 23 year old female with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. I am fairly active, and have not experience many/any serious complications after my three initial surgeries. I am now reaching an age and position in my life where children have began to become a part of the equation. I do not take birth control, but am looking into getting an IUD. I am just curious about the risks involved not only with an IUD but with pregnancy. Would my heart/body be able to handle pregnancy and then childbirth? This has always been something my doctor wanted to discuss "later", perhaps when I am seriously considering having children. I am not at that point, but would still like some answers.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Pregnancy and Birth Control with a Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome patientI am a 23 year old female with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. I am fairly active, and have not experience many/any serious complications after my three initial surgeries. I am now reaching an age and position in my life where children have began to become a part of the equation. I do not take birth control, but am looking into getting an IUD. I am just curious about the risks involved not only with an IUD but with pregnancy. Would my heart/body be able to handle pregnancy and then childbirth? This has always been something my doctor wanted to discuss "later", perhaps when I am seriously considering having children. I am not at that point, but would still like some answers.
CardiostarUSA1 responded:
Hi:
"I am just curious about the risks involved not only with an IUD"
Can't comment on that, but can comment on this -
"......but with pregnancy, Would my heart/body be able to handle pregnancy and then childbirth?"
.
In general-only here, and important to know, pregnancy (first, second, or more) itself can place a tremendous strain on the heart and circulatory system, which may/can cause, or aggravate/worsen/exacerbate various symptoms/problems, even in healthy individuals.
By the time the baby is due, blood volume has increased by up to 50%, meaning the heart must beat faster and pump harder to move all that blood. Post-pregnancy, symptoms/problems may/can continue or entirely new ones may/can develop/arise, sometimes slowly, gradually or suddenly.
Safe delivery - Child/Mother
As reported, many pregnancies can and do conclude successfully when medical professionals anticipate potential complications and monitor for early signs of any difficulty.
Providing care for the woman with a cardiac abnormality may/can present certain challenges and therefore the patient is best cared for by a multi-disciplinary team whose members bring specialized knowledge and skill to bear on the needs that the patient and the precious fragile fetus present.
Best of luck down the road of life. Live long and prosper.
Take care,
CardioStar*
WebMD member (since 8/99)
-
-
Be well-informed
Pregnancy
Heart/pulse rate/blood pressure changes
The volume of blood circulating in the human body increases during pregnancy. This is especially significant from 6 weeks until the middle of the pregnancy. After this, the increase is much more gradual.
If you are carrying more than one baby, or if it is not your first pregnancy, the increase in your blood volume will be even greater. In the third trimester (last 3 months) of your pregnancy, your heart/pulse (H/P) rate will increase by up to 10 to 20 beats per minute (BPM). Again, if you are carrying more than one child or if you have been pregnant before, your pulse is likely to be even faster.
There is an increased demand on the mother for oxygen during labor, and the blood pressure (BP) and HP rate will rise. The BP and HR usually return to the levels they were at before labor approximately 1 hour after giving birth.
Some individuals (as determined on a highly-individualized case-by-case basis) with cardiovascular conditions may be advised to have a cesarean section (C-section) as is it easier to control the H/P rate and BP with this specific type of delivery.
-
It's your future......be there.
.
WebMD/WebMD forums DOES NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
"I am just curious about the risks involved not only with an IUD"
Can't comment on that, but can comment on this -
"......but with pregnancy, Would my heart/body be able to handle pregnancy and then childbirth?"
.
In general-only here, and important to know, pregnancy (first, second, or more) itself can place a tremendous strain on the heart and circulatory system, which may/can cause, or aggravate/worsen/exacerbate various symptoms/problems, even in healthy individuals.
By the time the baby is due, blood volume has increased by up to 50%, meaning the heart must beat faster and pump harder to move all that blood. Post-pregnancy, symptoms/problems may/can continue or entirely new ones may/can develop/arise, sometimes slowly, gradually or suddenly.
Safe delivery - Child/Mother
As reported, many pregnancies can and do conclude successfully when medical professionals anticipate potential complications and monitor for early signs of any difficulty.
Providing care for the woman with a cardiac abnormality may/can present certain challenges and therefore the patient is best cared for by a multi-disciplinary team whose members bring specialized knowledge and skill to bear on the needs that the patient and the precious fragile fetus present.
Best of luck down the road of life. Live long and prosper.
Take care,
CardioStar*
WebMD member (since 8/99)
-
-
Be well-informed
Pregnancy
Heart/pulse rate/blood pressure changes
The volume of blood circulating in the human body increases during pregnancy. This is especially significant from 6 weeks until the middle of the pregnancy. After this, the increase is much more gradual.
If you are carrying more than one baby, or if it is not your first pregnancy, the increase in your blood volume will be even greater. In the third trimester (last 3 months) of your pregnancy, your heart/pulse (H/P) rate will increase by up to 10 to 20 beats per minute (BPM). Again, if you are carrying more than one child or if you have been pregnant before, your pulse is likely to be even faster.
There is an increased demand on the mother for oxygen during labor, and the blood pressure (BP) and HP rate will rise. The BP and HR usually return to the levels they were at before labor approximately 1 hour after giving birth.
Some individuals (as determined on a highly-individualized case-by-case basis) with cardiovascular conditions may be advised to have a cesarean section (C-section) as is it easier to control the H/P rate and BP with this specific type of delivery.
-
It's your future......be there.
.
WebMD/WebMD forums DOES NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Report This| Share this:Pregnancy and Birth Control with a Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome patientHi:<br /><br /><i> "I am just curious about the risks involved not only with an IUD"</i><br /><br />Can't comment on that, but can comment on this - <br /><i><br /> "......but with pregnancy, Would my heart/body be able to handle pregnancy and then childbirth?" </i><br />.<br />In general-only here, and important to know, pregnancy (first, second, or more) itself can place a tremendous strain on the heart and circulatory system, which may/can cause, or aggravate/worsen/exacerbate various symptoms/problems, even in healthy individuals. <br /> <br />By the time the baby is due, blood volume has increased by up to 50%, meaning the heart must beat faster and pump harder to move all that blood. Post-pregnancy, symptoms/problems may/can continue or entirely new ones may/can develop/arise, sometimes slowly, gradually or suddenly.<br /> <br />Safe delivery - Child/Mother <br /> <br />As reported, <b>many pregnancies can and do conclude successfully when </b>medical professionals anticipate potential complications and monitor for early signs of any difficulty. <br /> <br />Providing care for the woman with a cardiac abnormality may/can present certain challenges and therefore the<b> patient is best cared for by a multi-disciplinary team whose members bring specialized knowledge and skill to bear </b>on the needs that the patient and the precious fragile fetus present.<br /><br />Best of luck down the road of life. Live long and prosper.<br /> <br /> Take care,<br /> <br /> CardioStar*<br /> <br /> WebMD member (since 8/99)<br /> <br /> <img src=http://www.animateit.net/data/media/august2009/cardiogram_line.gif class=post_img /><br /> <br /> -<br /><br />-<br /><br /><b>Be well-informed</b><br /><br />Pregnancy <br /><br /><b>Heart/pulse rate/blood pressure changes </b><br /><br />The volume of blood circulating in the human body increases during pregnancy. This is especially significant from 6 weeks until the middle of the pregnancy. After this, the increase is much more gradual. <br /><br />If you are carrying more than one baby, or if it is not your first pregnancy, the increase in your blood volume will be even greater. In the third trimester (last 3 months) of your pregnancy, your heart/pulse (H/P) rate will increase by up to 10 to 20 beats per minute (BPM). Again, if you are carrying more than one child or if you have been pregnant before, your pulse is likely to be even faster. <br /><br />There is an increased demand on the mother for oxygen during labor, and the blood pressure (BP) and HP rate will rise. The BP and HR usually return to the levels they were at before labor approximately 1 hour after giving birth. <br /> <br /> Some individuals (as determined on a highly-individualized case-by-case basis) with cardiovascular conditions may be advised to have a cesarean section (C-section) as is it easier to control the H/P rate and BP with this specific type of delivery.<br /><br />-<br /><br />It's your future......be there. <img src=http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif class=post_img /><br /><br />.<br /><br /><b>WebMD/WebMD forums <u>DOES NOT</u> provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.<br /><br /><br /></b>
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