A health writer shares their experience being diagnosed with life-long heart defect and murmur during their third pregnancy.
s a mom of two, I always imagined a third pregnancy would feel like a breeze, even though it had been a decade since I was last pregnant. My first two pregnancies felt easy, with my only “complications” being early contractions with my first, and some sciatic nerve pain with my second.
During this pregnancy, I learned something about my body I never knew before: I have a hole in my heart, and it's gone undiagnosed and undetected my entire life.When I started having these issues, I wrote them off as typical pregnancy side effects, even though I’d never had them in the past. After all, a slightly elevated heart rate and some shortness of breath is normal during pregnancy because your blood volume increases by. Even fainting can happen in some cases if you’re dehydrated or not eating enough. These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have heart issues., I’d been tested for gestational diabetes fairly early on in each pregnancy, as people with PCOS are typically at, I began tracking everything: What I ate and drank, my physical activity, and the results of my blood sugar tests . I thought maybe in this thorough note-taking, I could get to the bottom of my potentially related heart issues. Everything seemed in perfect order. Even my blood sugar leveled out with healthy changes, so why was my heart doing all these strange things? My next move was of course to bring this up to my care team—my primary-care doctor, my midwife, and my OB/GYN. My concerns were dismissed for about two months, though, because I never fainted or got palpitations during an appointment, and my heart rate always seemed fine. It wasn’t until I went to the hospital at 22 weeks for a separate pregnancy issue that things were taken seriously. While lying down hooked up to monitors in the ER, my heart rate spiked, alarming the nurse writing down my information. “Yes, and I’ll pass out in 30 seconds.” The nurse immediately hit an emergency button above my head and called in three more staff members to try and keep me from passing out. The incident finally prompted my care team to order an ECG , and refer me to a cardiologist for a follow-up appointment and series of tests, including blood work, an echocardiogram, and a, which explained my palpitations and shortness of breath. They also found the small, 1/4-inch hole in my heart that I was likely born with but had not yet caused health problems. This is known as an, which happens while the heart’s relaxed between beats. 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. It's one of the most common types of congenital heart defects, meaning you're born with it, but it often resolves once you're a few months old. It's rare for it to go undetected until adulthood, and if it doesn't close, it can cause long-term blood vessel damage in the lungs, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of stroke. though, is for a pre-existing heart issue like atrial septic defect to be discovered during pregnancy. “Most people that have pre-existing heart issues manage their condition extremely well by working closely with a cardiologist,” says"Heart murmurs may sound scary, but they’re actually quite common in people who’re pregnant. In fact, nearly 90 percent of pregnant people develop one." Sometimes the strain put on your heart during pregnancy can bring out a pre-existing condition you didn’t know about, says Brenton. This is why it's important to bring up any symptoms you're feeling, so your doctor can investigate further or refer you to a cardiologist for more specialized care. My situation is rare, but it can happen. Some people may need surgery or medication to treat atrial septic defect and its symptoms, but because mine was small and wasn't posing immediate threats to my health or my baby, doctors chose to monitor me closely instead. An extra level of care was required because it added a layer of risk to my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum quality of life. Before leaving the hospital that day, I was inundated with information about my condition, including every risk involved. I also learned a cardiologist would have to be present at my birth in case anything happened. All I could think about were my older children—how they'd cope with the news of this diagnosis, and how their lives would drastically change if anything happened to me. As my initial shock melted away during the 45-minute drive home, I went into planning mode. I was determined to do everything possible to make sure this news didn't negatively affect our lives, and that my pregnancy and birth were healthy.There were four major shifts I made to my life right after my diagnosis, recommended by my care team, in order for my pregnancy and birth to go as smoothly as possible.The first thing I did was take an even closer look at my diet. I had already made changes . He spoke to the midwife with ease and advocated for me so I could focus on my body and labor. “Having that support person, who knows you and knows how to seek help in those moments, is so important,” says Brenton. While my birth went incredibly well, beyond anyone’s hopes or expectations, the reality is no two births are the same, and some people may need other interventions. Your doctors may advise you to get an epidural, C-section, or have an early birth to avoid further heart complications. And your recovery may look different and involve regular blood testing, ECGs, and glucose tests if you had gestational diabetes, heart problems, or other birth complications.. But all births and heart defects are different. This is why it's important to go to all of your appointments before and after you give birth, and let your care team know if notice any unusual symptoms along the way.After discovering a heart issue like mine, many may choose not to have more children. But because my older children were so close, and there was a decade between my second and third, I wanted my third child to have a close sibling, too. 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. I didn’t develop gestational diabetes, and even now, thanks to leading a balanced, healthy lifestyle, I don’t have issues with my heart as my body isn’t pumping the same level of blood it was during pregnancy. This doesn’t mean my risk of a future health issue is gone, though. Many people who have heart-related health issues during pregnancy can have complications post-birth and later in life, per the. 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. Depending on your level of risk, your doctor can help you determine whether it's safe to consider getting pregnant and help you come up with a plan.Advocating for your health is so important, and that often starts with education. If I hadn’t spoken up about my symptoms early on, or gone to the hospital at 20 weeks, I wouldn’t have known what to do to make my pregnancy, birth, and life postpartum easier. Learning about my condition was also crucial for me and my partner, so that we knew when to ask for help and seek care. 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. While I don't have a heart murmur anymore, I still have a hole in my heart, which can only be fixed with surgery. Thankfully it doesn't cause issues anymore because I'm not pumping as much blood as I was when pregnant, but I still have to get annual tests to make sure everything is OK, including blood tests, a blood sugar test for diabetes, and an ECG. So far, all results have been ideal, mainly thanks to eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet, exercise, and reducing my stress. Another important takeaway? Not every symptom in pregnancy will uncover something more serious about your health. But if something feels off, it’s always worth bringing up concerns to your doctor.Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.The Wellness Intel You Need—Without the BS You Don'tYour official excuse to add"OOD" to your cal.4 Mistakes That Are Causing You to Waste Money on Skin-Care Serums, According to an Esthetician
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