HCM and pregnancy

[trinaredler]

Hello everyone! I've had HCM (non-obstructive) since I was 14 and am now 23. I recently got engaged, and was wondering if any of you have been able to have a baby with HCM. I've had different doctors tell me conflicting advice. So if any of you have advice of your own, I'd like to hear it. Just kind of want to know if it's even possible, I guess. Thanks!

Trina

[Reenie]

Hi Trina. There are a lot of ladies here who have had babies after they knew of their HCM. I think that with most run-of-the-mill HCM, it should be fine to carry a baby to term, but you will need to have a high-risk obstetrician who can and will confer with your cardiologist on your behalf. You don't mention any particular complications so I would think it's all good.

One thing to consider if you do choose to have a baby, those with HCM may have a severe reaction to an epidural for pain. Most HCM specialists would prefer their patients not have the epidural because it can make your blood pressure crash unless you have a hyper vigilant anesthesiologist, and the risk is just too great.

Good luck with your decisions.

[Cynaburst]

Hi Trina,

As Reenie told you, many here, including me, have had a child after being diagnosed with HCM. My pregnancy was fine (though I did have a bit of a BP crash at delivery with an epidural as Reenie says was a risk...I was told that the docs were on top of it, but they weren't really....if I had it to do again, I would skip the epidural).

I see that you are up there in the Midwest. Have you visited a HCM specialist for an evaluation? I would suggest that you do that before you proceed with a pregnancy. Mayo, Cleveland, U. of Michigan, Northwestern & Minneapolis Heart are all good choices. I think you should plan carefully, but with the proper care and planning, you should be fine.

[Pam Alexson]

Hi Trina,

Another one here who had babies w/ HCM BUT, who did not know that I had HCM when I went through my pregnancies . I had my kids in 79,( age 26) 81( age 27) and 86( age 33). I knew that I had a very loud heart murmur, mitral regurgitation and that I passed out every so often on a whim or when I was ill / dehydrated /stressed/ or reasons I could not figure out.I passed out several times while pregnant. The docs told me that was vaso-vagal. I was NEVER evaluated by a GOOD cardiologist especially someone who knew about HCM.
Increasing signs of what I believe now were HCM started showing up after the "86" delivery. The ob-gyns commented during the long labor that I had a VERY loud heart murmur. They made me go through 36 hours of labor before I took control and said my heart was "hurting" and I believed I was having chest pain. They changed their attitudes rather quickly ..put me on oxygen and delivered my 11 pound, 1/2 oz, son by c-section.
By age 42 more symptoms were evident, and then age 45-47, very , very bad..still no diagnosis. I diagnosed myself by following a trail of symptoms and test results and took myself to a center where they knew cardiology and saw by a fluke, a pediatric cardiologist and he confirmed what I had already discovered.

SO the short of my long story is even if you do not know you have HCM it is possible to have children. Knowing that you do have HCM in advance will put you at the best opportunity to get excellent prenatal and postpartum care, taking care of your special needs. That is better then many who got their diagnosis and treatment started later in life, much later, after progression of the disease may have taken place, from lack of proper care.

You are at an advantage to get the best care possible so please see an HCM specialist if you have not.
I am now blessed w/ grand babies ; 3rd on the way and loving every minute of it.

I wish you as many babies as you desire and a happy healthy journey enhanced by all you learn .

Pam

Let us know how you do.

[heather]

Hi Trina. We sound like twins.....LOL... I was also dx'd at 14 w/ non-obstructive HCM. I got married when I was 21 and had my first baby at 24 w/ no problems. My labor w/ the 1st delivery was so fast I did not have an epidural, but I did have my 2nd son at 28 and had an epi. w/ no problems. The only problems I really had was fluid accumulation after both births, which I guess is somewhat common w/ all deliveries. I had severe swelling in my ankles, but that all went away rather quickly. My 1st son, I just saw my regular OB here at home and then w/ the 2nd one I had a perinatologist that followed me through my pregnancy and delivery. Let me know if you have any other questions.