Pregnancy and MVR

[malloryn]

Pregnancy and Valve replacement...
Does anyone have some sites I have refer too?
I have done some research on it, although I have been pregnant with my mechanical valve.. I ended up getting a horrible kidney problem during my pregnancy, which is now fixed. I was put on Lovenox during my pregnancy, which I lasted until 4 1/2 months.. but for my baby it was to early. From the kidney problem I ended up getting pressure on my heart from the water retention, which once I started on the drugs for the problem it went away within two weeks but you can't take those drugs during pregnancy. The amount of water my body held due to the kidney problem, it just went down hill and everything fell in my pregnancy.. Although my heart and valve were in prefect condition and once I get married later in life, I plan to try again.

 

[MikeHeim]

I don't claim to be an expert and certainly never plan to be, but I have collected the following links regarding other members whom have had very serious issues with pregnancy and mechanical valves. I absolutely do not want to scare you, but I have no vested interest other than I firmly believe in full disclosure on the issue.

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16186
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23203
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23884

 

[Karlynn]

We have had a some people who have had successful pregnancies with a mechanical valve. However it take A LOT of planning prior and careful watching and care by cardiologist and OB and just because you do "all the right things" doesn't mean it will be a good experience. We have had people with good experiences (but certainly not easy) and people with very tough experiences. It sounds like your experience was difficult.

When young women come on here before a valve replacement and state that they want to have their own bio children, it's always my recommendation that they should select a tissue valve. It's not that a mechanical can't handle the physical demands on a pregnancy, but it's the anticoagulation issues that are very serious for baby and mother.

It's my own very humble opinion that if I was choosing to have a child after a mechanical valve replacement that I would choose another way than carrying one myself. 9 months of pregnancy is very fleeting, but the experience of having your own child (whether you are genetically connected or not) is much much much longer lasting and absolutely more worthwhile. But this is my own opinion and I'm certainly not stating it as any sort of judgment for those women who have chosen to have bio-children after having a mechanical valve installed.

 

[malloryn]

If only my pig valve would of lasted I would had no worries, but things happen!
I had apig valve for two years and then I had to get a mechanical...

 

[Karlynn]

If only my pig valve would of lasted I would had no worries, but things happen!
I had apig valve for two years and then I had to get a mechanical...

I've always loved the saying "Life is what happens when we've made other plans."

There are many ways for you to have a child when you are ready. Just be open to different ideas and the joys that each idea can bring. I have a very good friend who had 3 miscarriages and 2 stillbirths. She was a very healthy woman who, for some reasons unknown to anyone (after all sorts of drug therapies and procedures) , could not bring a living child into the world. The day her OB told her "I think it's time to come to terms with the fact that you are not going to be able to have your own child." she got a call from a casual acquaintance just to ask a question about something mundane. My friend had just come home from getting the upsetting news and she just couldn't hold it in and poured her heart out to this woman she really didn't know. As it happens the woman knew of a young woman about to give birth who was still looking for parents to adopt her child. She arranged a meeting with my friend and her husband. After turning down a few dozen prospective parents, she said she knew within 5 minutes of meeting my friend that she had found the parents for her child. 10 days later, my friend was in the delivery room as her daughter was born. Just short 10 days after feeling she'd never be able to be what she wanted most - a mother. 3 years later they adopted their 2nd daughter from Vietnam.

I know it's not a heart story - but it is one that always reminds me that it doesn't do any good to focus on the regrets and what-if's of life because we may miss something even more spectacular that comes our way.

God bless.

 

[Elcarim]

I've always loved the saying "Life is what happens when we've made other plans."

There are many ways for you to have a child when you are ready. Just be open to different ideas and the joys that each idea can bring. I have a very good friend who had 3 miscarriages and 2 stillbirths. She was a very healthy woman who, for some reasons unknown to anyone (after all sorts of drug therapies and procedures) , could not bring a living child into the world. The day her OB told her "I think it's time to come to terms with the fact that you are not going to be able to have your own child." she got a call from a casual acquaintance just to ask a question about something mundane. My friend had just come home from getting the upsetting news and she just couldn't hold it in and poured her heart out to this woman she really didn't know. As it happens the woman knew of a young woman about to give birth who was still looking for parents to adopt her child. She arranged a meeting with my friend and her husband. After turning down a few dozen prospective parents, she said she knew within 5 minutes of meeting my friend that she had found the parents for her child. 10 days later, my friend was in the delivery room as her daughter was born. Just short 10 days after feeling she'd never be able to be what she wanted most - a mother. 3 years later they adopted their 2nd daughter from Vietnam.

I know it's not a heart story - but it is one that always reminds me that it doesn't do any good to focus on the regrets and what-if's of life because we may miss something even more spectacular that comes our way.

God bless.

That story brought a tear to my eye. What a lovely outcome for your friend!!

I had my two children while I had my pig valve. It lasted five years and was replaced when my younger son was three months old. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I will not have another biological child.

After reading the experiences that some on here have had trying to have children with a mechanical valve I would definitely not take the risk.

It seems so unfair that a man with a mechanical valve can father children with no risk at all, but us women are put in such a difficult position.

There are other ways. Surrogacy could be an option. Or adoption/fostering.

Google it, read the studies, talk to your cardiologist. My gyno was of the opinion that it would be as simple as changing to heparin injections instead of coumadin. But studies have shown that heparin does not adequately protect mech valvers from clots.