Complicated pregnancy- birth experiences/support please

[adoringowls]

Hi everyone,

First time posting on here, although I've been reading threads for a couple of weeks now!

I'm currently 13 weeks pregnant with my first baby, due end of December. I have congenital heart disease, so my pregnancy is fairly complicated and risky, particularly when it comes to the later months and the birth itself. I'm finding that I'm particularly nervous about the birth because of these risks, and because of the fact that I really don't know anyone in a similar position to me (ie with serious health concerns)! It would be great to hear from anyone who had a pregnancy complicated by existing health conditions of any kind- although if you also have a heart condition it would be especially great to hear from you! Just your stories/experiences would be really nice.

My heart condition affects things as follows (I'm being cared for by a specialist team):

• The changes to my cardiovascular system during pregnancy causes risks to my heart, and can also make the baby small or premature.
• My birth will take place in a labour ward under the management of a high risk team, and I know I will need an epidural to control the impact of contractions on my heart as well as regulate my blood pressure (I don't mind any of this, in fact it makes me feel more secure having medical involvement). I may also have to have an assisted delivery with ventouse or forceps if the doctors feel that my heart won't cope well with the pushing stage (this bothers me as I'm afraid of the increased risk of internal injury).

Mary
x

Bumping for you OP and good luck with the pregnancy.

No advice really but in the same boat ish.

With my first I had no clue I had an undiagnosed heart condition so everything was fairly smooth, only really extra scans because of my v.low bmi and baby bigger than expected, saw a consultant so they could also keep an eye on me. Gave birth in hospital, haemorrhaged due to retained placenta and had a blood transfusion plus removal under general anaesthetic. Son also got the heart condition from me

This time around with baby 2 I'm diagnosed with lqts1 - inherited heart condition. High risk due to meds/heart condition, previous PPH and low bmi.

we won't know until baby is born whether I've passed the condition to them or not, will be having extra scans because of betas, pre baby low bmi again and due to last baby being on the large side.

I'll be consultant led and give birth in hospital. I have to see a consultant after every scan from 20 weeks onwards. I see a specialist doctor in obstetrics about my heart and previous pregnancy and should see an anaesthetist for a review with them this time to see what I can and can't have or do in labour and birth. Oh and then on top of all of that I've got regular midwife appointments and appointments due to be sorted for my anti d injection, whooping cough injection and flu jab.

I feel like my notes are all just appointments at the moment, I've got at least ten different letters for appointments.

It's difficult but you can only power though it. You'll be well monitored and should deliver baby safely 🙂

@duebaby2

Sorry for the delayed response, I totally missed your message, but thanks for posting!

It sounds like you've had a tough time of it, too. I know what you mean by being overwhelmed with appointments! I'm in hospital around once a week at the moment for various test and monitoring (now 16+4). I've met my specialist team now (there's 8 people in total!) and they're absolutely amazing, so I feel like I'm definitely in the best possible hands. I see the specialist team every 2-4 weeks, then the midwife, scans, tests, and other obs on top of that, so I guess at least if a problem arose they're like to catch it pretty early on.

Were/are you nervous about how things would go with the birth, and for your first baby did you feel safe in the hospital, even despite all the complications? I guess I'm worried I won't be able to stop being afraid of something happening to me or the baby and it will make the birth difficult even if there aren't any emergencies.