cardiomyopathy and pregnancy diagnosed at age 21?

Question

I am now 25 and would like to get pregnant. I can't find much data about the mothers or babyy's health during the pregnancy. I have cardiomyopathy with congstive heart failure, they have no idea how I got it. My ejection fractuion was at 15% and has now went up to 35% please help me if you have some info thank you

Answer 1

Please go the link given below to understand your condition/status :

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic292.htm

Answer 2

Do not risk it. 35% is still not considered normal. I was diagnosed with it when I was 26 yrs old. I'm now 37 years old. I tried to carry a pregnancy when my heart went back to normal, which is an EF of 55% or higher, and could not carry it past week 2 of the second trimester because my EF had once again dropped, this time to the point where they were calling around to see if there would be a heart to transplant for me. it was at 8%. My only choices were either the baby goes or both of us goes, I couldn't walk any longer without help, except to the bed or to a chair next to the bed. My EF is now at 17% and I can't work and I am having a hard time controlling the symptoms with medicine most of the time. Most of the people that I know about that have it there is no known cause, none of us are related, but here we are. If you want more information on a personal level from someone who has had it for 11 years and knows the heartache of having a condition that no one in the family is dealing with and the isolation that comes with it because no one understands that some days you just don't feel well, please email me. I'd be more than happy to listen.

Answer 3

There are a tremendous number of variables at play here. Some women with CM do manage to carry a child to term, but it is a tricky business. You will have to have a team of doctors, I suspect, to figure out *if* it makes sense to even try, and then to help you through it. A heart failure specialist would be the place to start, in my opinion.

Although some of the resources that I'll list below are not necessarily specialized in your situation, they will have more information and members who can help. The links I provide will get you to discussion groups with people that have cardiomyopathy. If you browse around the respective sites, you will probably learn something, as well.

Good luck, and please feel free to contact me if you want any further info. (I'm a moderator on the Yahoo cardiomyopathy group and would be happy to help you find information.)

Answer 4

I have cardiomyopathy too found out in Feb. I'm a 26 year old girl and my doctor told me that when mine was pumping at 35% that it's a bad bad idea to get pregnant that I would be putting me and the baby at risk, I hope one day to have a baby too, but you would be high risk and it's not worth loosing your life, as had as it might be you might not be able to have one, I think about it all the time, but give it to God!

Answer 5

with an ejection fraction like that, pregnancy is not a good idea. for two reasons, first your heart is damaged, it will tax it enormously if you get pregnant, the process could kill you. second, consider the child you may be successful in producing, what happens to that child if you die before it's grown? you don't do yourself or any possible offspring any favors by getting pregnant when your health is so precarious.

Answer 6

I would suggest going and talking to a fertility specialist. They can run tests to make sure everything is fine with YOU before you get pregnant. You will be considered high risk, and as such, will probably be watched more closely. If you are on medication for it, which I assume you are, those would need to be closely monitored, or changed depending on what you are on. I would probably contact a peri-neonatologist- these doctors specialize in very high risk pregnancies. You may need a referral to go to one, but it would be well worth it for you. Good luck on your journey to motherhood!!!! I hope everything works out for you!!