Desperately Seeking Post VR Mommies

[oscarboy]

Hi there. My name is Shelly. I'm 32 years old with two MVR's under my belt. I've been on coumdin for over 15 years, and my St. Jude's mechanical has held up beautifully. My first bio valve deteriorated quickly after a bout of BE - strep related. After extensive research on the issue of anticoagulation during pregnancy, w/ support of my cardiologist & OB, I became pregnant in Dec. '04. We quickly regulated PTT at 2.5-3 times control w/sub-cu. Heparin 7500 x 3/daily beginning 15 days post conception. I miscarried at 11 weeks & after an uneventful D&C re-started Coumadin and am back to my theraputic level. I am well aware of the risks associated with pregnancy for women in my position. I also am aware of many success stories out there. I would love to make contact with someone who has given birth post MVR & is a coumdin patient. I noticed a few woman have posted to the guestbook their successful pregnancy messages, but with no return email, I can't reply. Thanks!

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hello,

Welcome to VR.com.

So sorry to hear your pregnancy did not carry out. This is something my husband and I have struggled with for 6 years since my MVR.

Upon reserch.....we decided not to forge ahead as we already have one child. Second would have been nice...but looks like it's not in the cards.

I am not aware of a member than has carried out a sucessful pregnancy post mechanical MVR. Hopefully one day we will have some success stories to compare!

All the best to you. Keep us posted on your progress!

 

[oscarboy]

Gina,
Thanks for getting back to me. I've read your threads, as well as those of every other woman of child bearing age I've been able to locate on the forum. I'm thankful to have found this site, but I knew it was a long shot finding post MVR pregnancy people to connect with- Not because they're not out there though I would just really like to make contact with someone who has gone through this experience. My cardiologist has had two patients that have had successful pregnancies post MVR. One used sub-cu. Heparin for the 1st and 3rd trimesters, and Coumadin for the 2nd. The other used Heparin her entire pregnancy. He's does not recommend Lovenox for pregancy, despite the updated guidelines. He also keeps his general MVR Coumadin patients at 3.0 to 3.5 INR. My OB has had many patients who required anticoagulation, no valve patients though. She has managed one heart transplant patient through two successful pregnanies however. She and my cardiologist worked very closely during my pregnancy. I am confident about their support and care should I choose to go down this path again - they're both top in their respective fields; but as you know this is a very personal decision given the risks. My loss was random, not associated with my heart condition, and I'm still working through the grief. I'm not sure when/if I'll be ready to try again.

Regards,
Shelly

 

[Karlynn]

Wow, sounds like you have the right OB. I've never heard of a heart transplant recipient having children. That's quite an accomplishment.

Best wishes.

 

[Sherry]

Welcome, Shelly,
I had the very same experience you had (miscarriage) about a year after my replacement. (I was 34 at the time.) But, my husband and I already had two boys so we decided after the miscarriage and with all the complications, we wouldn't even try again. I am not aware of any replacement patients on the forum who have gone through with a pregnancy, but that doesn't mean they're not out there. Best of luck to you in your search. It sounds like you are in great medical hands up there.

 

[geebee]

Shelly,
Like the others, I am very impressed with the cardio you have. It sounds like, if getting through a post-VR pregnancy is possible, he is the one to help you.
My understanding is the problem is the first trimester when it comes to coumadin and pregnancy so coming up with an alternative to coumadin during those 3 months may work out. Sounds like there is a definite plan.
I applaud your strong desire to have a baby. You are brave to try. Just remember that you need to be around too to enjoy the baby.

 

[Gnusgal]

Wow, sounds like you have the right OB. I've never heard of a heart transplant recipient having children. That's quite an accomplishment.

Best wishes.

My card has also had a transplant patient who went through a successful pregnancy. Knowing that has me torn... Because now we are going "Do we wait until after transplant and MAYBE be able to have my own child, or go ahead and do the adoption or surrogacy thing before transplant???" I think we've decided to go with the second option. There's no telling when the transplant will be or if it will really mean I can have my own kids... Anyway, that's off topic.

Shelly, welcome. I wish you luck in finding women who have had pregnancy success post VR. I am one who cannot carry a pregnancy because of my complex congenital heart defects, not just my mechanical valve. It is frustrating to want something so badly, but have our bodies get in the way one way or another.

 

[oscarboy]

Thanks for the warm welcome. Sherry, I'm sorry that you experienced a miscarriage as well - not a fun club to belong to. You mention that you had many complications; were those related to anticoagulation? Do you mind sharing some details with me? I was in the hospital during the transition from coumadin to heparin; it took them two days to regulate dosing. I had my PTT checked two to three times weekly, and platelet counts every other test. Your platelets can go down on heparin, which mine did occasionally, but they always stayed in normal range. I chose the bio. valve at age 12 for various reasons, namely because I wanted the chance to conceive; back then the strong advice from my cardiac team was NO to pregnancy for mechanical valve gals. My valve gave up on me about 4 years later, and when I got the St. Jude's, I concluded my hopes for bio. children were null. I actually never really allowed myself to consider pregnancy until I met a high risk OB at the age of 21; he discussed with me back then the heparin alternative. I didn't approach the issue again with my current cardiologist until a few years into my marriage; just over a year ago. I'm a determined person, of the mind that if there are success stories out there..I can be one of them. I'm also well aware of the risks, though confident that my medical team will do whatever they can to help minimize those risks, i.e. frequent PTT testing, stress tests, echos etc. I am also commited to doing my part, i.e. manage weight gain, no travel, open to coumadin use in the 2nd trimester if my platelet count dips too low or my cariologist strongly urges. Anyway, we all know there are limits for our bodies that we have no control over. I'm not convinced I want to give up just yet, but I have more soul searching to do.

 

[Wendy]

Hello Shelly,
You seem like a very determined woman and I admire that...I am not sure if you read my posting but I have had a AVR, B-jork Shiley replacement valve in 1987 and have been on Coumadin for 18 years. Unlike yourself I am struggling with my options for having a child. I haven't visited my doctors yet (planning to do that in a couple of months), but I too want a bio child. I know there are risks however, there aren't many people who have had to go through this. There has got to be some successes and I would appreciate it if you would keep me in the loop if you find any as well. I too felt like I was the only one out there pre-pregnancy and I was relieved to see you had similar questions. As they say if you put your mind to something you will succeed, and I believe you are strong enough to do just that. I am 29 years old and I welcome the opportunity to chat with you. I think we both need mroe advice, if you find anything will you let me know? It really makes me feel great to know there are strong determined women out there....you are one of them.