Consider confounding factors
Consider confounding factors
kimfusca said:
Hello Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone out there has been in a similar situation as me, and how it worked out. Any more kids? Good experience or not?
Dear Kim,
I don't have a complete perspective yet, because I am only 21 weeks pregnant. So I can't say that I've been through this and all turned out well. So far, my baby girl is perfect. I have a mechanical valve which we chose partly because it appeared that I couldn't have more children and as I was approaching 40, we didn't consider that perimenopause could be related to my heart health.
But everything got healthier after my surgery. When I found myself pregnant, we couldn't bring ourselves to terminate. I switched from coumadin to lovenox at 4 weeks and I see a hematologist from Georgetown University as well as a high-risk OB. They both say this: because of my overall health -- no overweight, no diabetes, no other heart issues, and most of all because my valve is in the aortic position, I am at the low-risk end of a high risk group. In the US, there are no documented thrombo-embolic events in pregnant anti-coagulated women with mechanical aortic valves in the last 30 years. Women with mechanical mitral valves run higher risks of that and women with confounding health factors run additional risks of different adverse events.
I don't regret my mechanical valve and I would choose it again because frankly, for me, a failing heart valve is the scariest thing that ever happened. This pregnancy is easier than my last because now my heart works.
If I were in your position, I would talk with a doctor who is experienced with pregnancy and anti-coagulation and I would talk with him/her and get expert advice about your personal situation. Inevitable failing valve (tissue) and a second valve replacement are serious risks that I'm not sure
always outweigh the risk of an anticoagulated pregnancy with an aortic valve. The problem is a lack of data for making an informed decision. The FDA hates to do studies on pregnant women taking drugs because of the potential for law suits. But there are doctors out there who deal with it every day and know a lot about it. They could help you weigh your own situation.
Best of luck to you, with your heart, and your family!
Karen