A health writer shares their experience being diagnosed with life-long heart defect and murmur during their third pregnancy.
Experts in This Article
board-certified cardiologist and phyisican director for HCA Healthcare.
Sydney, Australia-based midwife with One Mama Midwife.
Even fainting can happen in some cases if youre dehydrated or not eating enough.
These symptoms dont necessarily mean you have heart issues.
But from the beginning, this pregnancy was different.
board-certified cardiologist and phyisican director for HCA Healthcare.
At 15 weeks, I was diagnosed withgestational diabetes.
Everything seemed in perfect order.
My response alarmed her further:Yes, and Ill pass out in 30 seconds.
Heart murmurs may sound scary, but theyre actually quite common in people whore pregnant.
In fact, nearly90 percentof pregnant people develop one.
Most are discovered in the second trimester and disappear within a week after birth without other complications or issues.
My atrial septic defect, on the other hand, was a different story.
Though its not overly common for women to find heart problems during pregnancy.
Heart murmurs may sound scary, but theyre actually quite common in people whore pregnant.
board-certified cardiologist and phyisican director for HCA Healthcare.
In fact, nearly 90 percent of pregnant people develop one.
My situation is rare, but it can happen.
I also learned a cardiologist would have to be present at my birth in case anything happened.
As my initial shock melted away during the 45-minute drive home, I went into planning mode.
I had already made changes (likereducing my sugar intake) for my gestational diabetes.
The next step was incorporating moreheart-healthy foods.
It doesnt matter if its for heart health, cancer prevention, dementia prevention, or kidney disease.
The same diet will help all of those things.
Any other foods rich in healthy fats are good for your heart, too, like nuts and avocado.
I started walking along the beach where lifeguards were present if I needed help.
I also began takingprenatal yogaclasses to improve my strength andflexibility.
With my first two pregnancies, I didnt take Lamaze or special breathing classes.
I honestly thoughtbreathing techniquesandmindfulnesswere pointless in such intense moments as birth, so I didnt bother with them.
This time, I did it all.
Everything I could do or learn to make my pregnancy and birth easier, I did.
Facing the possibility I could become part of this statistic and planning accordingly was scary, but essential.
After I made plans, I had to communicate them to my older kids and extended family.
Thankfully, a C-section for a heart issue alone is rare, per theMayo Clinic.
But all births and heart defects are different.
Can you give birth again if you have heart issues?
After discovering a heart issue like mine, many may choose not to have more children.
The decision to have another child was not taken lightly.
My husband and I talked to many medical professionals and prepared as best we could for my fourth pregnancy.
Fortunately, my heart was not a problem this time around.
This doesnt mean my risk of a future health issue is gone, though.
Because of this, I have to get an ECG and blood work done regularly.
And if anything feels off, my doctor will refer me for a Holter test again.
This also required me to be in tune with my body and recognize when something felt off.
Taking care of my heart in general is another lesson I learned.
Not every symptom in pregnancy will uncover something more serious about your health.
But if something feels off, its always worth bringing up concerns to your doctor.
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