Heart murmur affecting plans for homebirth

[CheerfulSoul]

My GP diagnosed a heart murmur at my 24 week check and referred me to a Cardiologist. My midwife says I can't have a home birth if the Cardiologist is concerned, as I'll need IV antibiotics during labour.

Does anyone else have any experience of this?

A friend of mine says there is research to suggest that antibiotics don't help and you can opt out of this. Does anyone have any more information on this at all??

Unfortunately I can't get a Cardiology appt until I'm 37 weeks so I will have no time to argue!

I had a look on the home birth website and thee is no mention of home births on there. They don't refer you to a cardiolgist for no good reason, if a cardiologist thinks you should be in hospital for your birth there will be a compelling medical reason why. Giving birth does put a strain on your heart. I think in some circumstances that a hospital birth is the safest route. I booked a home birth with both of mine but didn't manage to get one - in the end the birth is such a small part of your baby's life...

Totally agree with the above poster. I'm hugely in favour of homebirth in the right circumstances - and I would think a woman labouring wth a heart problem is certainly not one of those. TBH I would be far more inclined to listen to a cardiologist than some random friend who is probably quoting research off the internet without a full understanding of it (assuming your friend isn't a heart expert of course )

It depends on how serious your heart mumur is. I would push for an appointment asap to have it looked at. Could you go back to your GP?

My sister has one and has to have scans every year to see how it is. She has been told that if she ever has kids she may need a c section. This is because hers is quite serious and used to cause fits.

Yours could be pregnancy related or very minor which is why it hasnt been found before.

It could also be to do with monitoring during your labour.

Fingers crossed you do get your homebirth.

Hi CheerfulSoul

I have diagnosed 'MVP'( mitral valve prolapse) since about the age of 20, am now 34.

I have had numerous Echocardiograms in the past, mainly because of my worry about it.

Mine is or was last time i saw the cardiologist 4 years ago, benign, and now they have changed their minds about ' Propholactic anti biotic cover '
Depending on your diagnosis.....

My fist DS, 6 and a half years ago, I was told I had to have anti biotic cover and then they changed it before my birth.... everything was fine !

I used to have cover for dental work too, but now I dont.

You really need to speak to your Cardiologist, he/she is the one in the know and can give you all the correct facts... Have then said exactly what the diagnosis is ?

Its a shame you have to wait so long, can they not see you sooner ? I personally would not take no for an answer....

Lots of people have murmurs, some never noticed, lots never ever cause any problems atall.

How/why did he discover it ? Have you had symptoms ?

Dont worry about it though, unless you are put on ' at risk ' you should be able to have the birth of your choice

be very wary of the cardiology opinion. You'll get vastly different opinions, depoending on how up to date the doctor is, or which country his/her junior training took place in (DH has some fruity stories there.....). cardiologists by their very nature tend to be very drug happy and interventional, and I would push for a joint obstetrics/cardiology meeting.

The guidance on antibiotics was issued to dentists before cardiologists (my BIL told my hubby). I think the 'no AB cover' is for benign prolapses only?

Cardiac probs do tend to get worse in pregnancy, and if your GP is concerned you need an urgent referral, so you can be looked after properly and at least plan for a safe birth.

if it's any consolation I have a benign prolapse and a murmur and SVT. All of which were entirely unaffected by pregnancy. I opted for elec CSs - but this was due to me being too posh too push. I'm also very fit, and ran until the 30th week of my first pregnancy.