Heart issues and pregnancy: any advice?

When I was just seven years old, doctors diagnosed me with a heart murmur—specifically 😛mitral valve prolapse and mild mitral valve insufficiency, grade 2. Since then, I’ve been under constant medical supervision with checkups every six months, and I take half a tablet of Atenolol every single morning. About five months ago, my partner and I decided to start trying for a baby, and since then, I’ve completely stopped taking my medication. It’s been far too long without any pills, and honestly, I feel terrible. My heart rate spikes up to 180 bpm, and on top of that, my blood pressure drops dangerously low—sometimes hitting 90/60, or even as low as 60/40. I really need to know if anyone else has dealt with this specific situation and whether this will cause major complications during pregnancy. Every time I ask my doctor for guidance, he just tells me to come back once I’m actually pregnant and we can discuss it then; all he says is that my pregnancy won't be "business as usual" and that I'll need to be extra cautious. But I'm asking: am I allowed to continue my medication even though I'm actively trying to conceive? Because without them, I feel absolutely awful. Thanks for any insight. 😉

I had absolutely no clue, Amazon.
Seriously, I don't know anyone dealing with something like this. Have you tried asking any other doctors yet? Honestly, it’d be way better for you to actually understand what’s going on and how to handle it before things go south—instead of just sitting there panicking once the results come back (kind of like Scarlett O'Hara—"I'll think about that tomorrow" 🙄 ).

ruggedsailor75 said:I had absolutely no clue, Amazon.
Seriously, I don't know anyone dealing with something like this. Have you tried asking any other doctors yet? Honestly, it’d be way better for you to actually understand what’s going on and how to handle it before things go south—instead of just sitting there panicking once the results come back (kind of like Scarlett O'Hara—"I'll think about that tomorrow" 🙄 ).

Look, I get that, but I really don't have many options when it comes to cardiologists. I even went all the way to NYC, and they told me the exact same thing: just contact them once I'm actually pregnant. 😕
At the end of the day, I've seen four different cardiologists now, and I'm still stuck with zero answers.😕

driftingseal3 said:When I was just seven years old, doctors diagnosed me with a heart murmur—specifically 😛mitral valve prolapse and mild mitral valve insufficiency, grade 2. Since then, I’ve been under constant medical supervision with checkups every six months, and I take half a tablet of Atenolol every single morning. About five months ago, my partner and I decided to start trying for a baby, and since then, I’ve completely stopped taking my medication. It’s been far too long without any pills, and honestly, I feel terrible. My heart rate spikes up to 180 bpm, and on top of that, my blood pressure drops dangerously low—sometimes hitting 90/60, or even as low as 60/40. I really need to know if anyone else has dealt with this specific situation and whether this will cause major complications during pregnancy. Every time I ask my doctor for guidance, he just tells me to come back once I’m actually pregnant and we can discuss it then; all he says is that my pregnancy won't be "business as usual" and that I'll need to be extra cautious. But I'm asking: am I allowed to continue my medication even though I'm actively trying to conceive? Because without them, I feel absolutely awful. Thanks for any insight. 😉

Generally, women with mitral valve prolapse handle pregnancy just fine, but... given you were on beta-blockers and now you're dealing with tachycardia, you really need to find a top-tier cardiologist and a solid OB-GYN. You shouldn't have just quit your medication on your own. Any heart issue needs more than a "let's just get pregnant and see what happens" attitude. If you were taking medication before, you likely still need it, and you need professionals to help you navigate a healthy pregnancy instead of just leaving it all to chance.

stormylynx4 said:Generally, women with mitral valve prolapse handle pregnancy just fine, but... given you were on beta-blockers and now you're dealing with tachycardia, you really need to find a top-tier cardiologist and a solid OB-GYN. You shouldn't have just quit your medication on your own. Any heart issue needs more than a "let's just get pregnant and see what happens" attitude. If you were taking medication before, you likely still need it, and you need professionals to help you navigate a healthy pregnancy instead of just leaving it all to chance.

Honestly, I don't get it either. I'm convinced that being off my pills could actually make things worse, yet neither the gynecologist nor the cardiologist will give me a straight answer. It's pathetic...
In a month, I'll be seeing them, and I am going to lay it all out and grill them. They won't be able to brush me off this time; it's not just about me anymore.
Thanks for the response 😘

I honestly think a gynecologist SHOULD be telling you whether or not certain meds are safe during pregnancy. If they aren't giving you those answers, they probably don't have a clue.
Do yourself a favor and go ask someone who actually knows their stuff. Get a referral to see a specialist at Vanguard or maybe Mayo Clinic, just so you can get a straight answer.
I don't see why you should feel miserable if there's even a chance to find a compromise.
Your health comes first—for you, and then for the baby.
Look, you have to carry this pregnancy through to the end, right? So there's really no debating how bad you feel; you just have to feel fine, period!
😘

mistydrifter55 said:I honestly think a gynecologist SHOULD be telling you whether or not certain meds are safe during pregnancy. If they aren't giving you those answers, they probably don't have a clue.
Do yourself a favor and go ask someone who actually knows their stuff. Get a referral to see a specialist at Vanguard or maybe Mayo Clinic, just so you can get a straight answer.
I don't see why you should feel miserable if there's even a chance to find a compromise.
Your health comes first—for you, and then for the baby.
Look, you have to carry this pregnancy through to the end, right? So there's really no debating how bad you feel; you just have to feel fine, period!
😘

The issue is that I live pretty far from Washington, D.C. - 174 miles so making frequent trips out there isn't practical for me... and as for the doctors, everyone just stays silent, and that is driving me absolutely insane. 😈

driftingseal3 said:The issue is that I live pretty far from Washington, D.C. - 174 miles so making frequent trips out there isn't practical for me... and as for the doctors, everyone just stays silent, and that is driving me absolutely insane. 😈

Look, you're close enough to a major city. In a place like that, there’s bound to be a hospital nearby, and they'll definitely have a maternity or OB-GYN ward. 😉 Just go there and ask! 😬

😁 I’m just messing with you, but honestly? If I were in your shoes, I’d be out there hunting down whoever actually has the answers.
I wouldn't waste my time stressing over what’s coming. Whatever happens, happens. 👍

Duh, obviously a woman isn't just asking questions for the sake of it!
I wouldn't take what those doctors told you that seriously, honestly. It sounds totally unprofessional. Why don't you just look into some private cardiology clinics? Yeah, I know you have to pay out of pocket, but we're talking about your health here! If this is urgent—and I’d say it pretty much is—you shouldn't be sitting around waiting forever. Just book an appointment and you can probably get seen within a week.

Sure, but they're asking the wrong people. Thank goodness they stumbled onto the right thread on Reddit... Seriously, kudos to everyone here—both those asking and those jumping in to help. That’s exactly why this place exists, right? To swap stories, opinions, and everything in between. 😬
Let's be real, though. We're just Redditors, not OB-GYNs... 😉

driftingseal3 said:When I was just seven years old, doctors diagnosed me with a heart murmur—specifically 😛mitral valve prolapse and mild mitral valve insufficiency, grade 2. Since then, I’ve been under constant medical supervision with checkups every six months, and I take half a tablet of Atenolol every single morning. About five months ago, my partner and I decided to start trying for a baby, and since then, I’ve completely stopped taking my medication. It’s been far too long without any pills, and honestly, I feel terrible. My heart rate spikes up to 180 bpm, and on top of that, my blood pressure drops dangerously low—sometimes hitting 90/60, or even as low as 60/40. I really need to know if anyone else has dealt with this specific situation and whether this will cause major complications during pregnancy. Every time I ask my doctor for guidance, he just tells me to come back once I’m actually pregnant and we can discuss it then; all he says is that my pregnancy won't be "business as usual" and that I'll need to be extra cautious. But I'm asking: am I allowed to continue my medication even though I'm actively trying to conceive? Because without them, I feel absolutely awful. Thanks for any insight. 😉

Most of the time, if a woman has MVP prolapse, pregnancy goes through without a hitch. Honestly, symptoms often surprisingly ease up during that period. Regarding the Atenolol, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First off, it was prescribed for a good reason. Second—and this is huge—you can never just quit beta-blockers cold turkey. You have to taper off slowly over about two weeks under a doctor's supervision. Never try to DIY this without medical guidance, or you risk a dangerous "rebound" effect where your symptoms come back even worse. Third, traditionally, doctors have been cautious about using Atenolol during pregnancy because we don't fully know its long-term impact on the baby, especially since it does cross the placenta. Some newer studies in major medical journals suggest it might be perfectly fine, but you still have to play it safe. The general rule of thumb is that you take it if the risk to the mother from *not* taking it outweighs any potential risk to the baby.
Look, my two cents? Given those symptoms—especially that 180 BPM tachycardia, which is honestly pretty scary—you need to see a cardiologist ASAP. Seriously. They’re the only ones who can tell you exactly how to handle your meds and give you the straight answers you're looking for. You aren't expected to be an expert, and honestly, it's totally normal to feel overwhelmed right now. But your doctor is obligated to clear up any confusion so you don't end up panicking and messing with your prescription on your own. Don't just stop taking the Atenolol before you find out if you're pregnant; wait until you have the facts, then you and your doctor can figure out the best way forward.

Linda Gonzalez16 said:Most of the time, if a woman has MVP prolapse, pregnancy goes through without a hitch. Honestly, symptoms often surprisingly ease up during that period. Regarding the Atenolol, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First off, it was prescribed for a good reason. Second—and this is huge—you can never just quit beta-blockers cold turkey. You have to taper off slowly over about two weeks under a doctor's supervision. Never try to DIY this without medical guidance, or you risk a dangerous "rebound" effect where your symptoms come back even worse. Third, traditionally, doctors have been cautious about using Atenolol during pregnancy because we don't fully know its long-term impact on the baby, especially since it does cross the placenta. Some newer studies in major medical journals suggest it might be perfectly fine, but you still have to play it safe. The general rule of thumb is that you take it if the risk to the mother from *not* taking it outweighs any potential risk to the baby.
Look, my two cents? Given those symptoms—especially that 180 BPM tachycardia, which is honestly pretty scary—you need to see a cardiologist ASAP. Seriously. They’re the only ones who can tell you exactly how to handle your meds and give you the straight answers you're looking for. You aren't expected to be an expert, and honestly, it's totally normal to feel overwhelmed right now. But your doctor is obligated to clear up any confusion so you don't end up panicking and messing with your prescription on your own. Don't just stop taking the Atenolol before you find out if you're pregnant; wait until you have the facts, then you and your doctor can figure out the best way forward.

That’s exactly what I did—I stopped taking it cold turkey, and I felt absolutely terrible for the first few weeks. I ended up taking half a pill here and there just to cope, which I assume wasn't the right move either. I finally managed to get an appointment with a cardiologist in my ninth month, so I'll see what happens next. I'm just hoping they'll be more understanding this time around.
Thanks for the response 😉

I wanted to start a new thread here because I’m honestly not sure where else to turn—I might end up asking this in a few different places too.

Has anyone here dealt with pregnancy while managing hypertension (high blood pressure) along with occasional tachycardia or fibrillation? I can't quite remember the exact medical term for the heart stuff... anyway, I'm really curious if anyone has been in my shoes and how you managed your prenatal care?

Also, if there's a better specific thread for this kind of thing, please let me know!

To give you some context, I'm 37. I have a healthy three-year-old daughter who was actually born prematurely at 30 weeks. Back during my first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, which hasn't gone away—I'm still on medication for it today. About a month ago, things took a scary turn; my blood pressure spiked suddenly, and I went into tachycardia and fibrillation—basically an arrhythmia, or whatever you want to call it. My heart was just racing wildly and irregularly, and it lasted for several hours until they finally got me back into a normal sinus rhythm with various medications.
Right now, my daily regimen includes half a tablet of Triamterene 5/25 in the morning, one Physiotens in the evening, one Concor, and one Matreferin.
I am planning to get pregnant again, and I’m trying to figure out how someone in my condition handles the process. What kind of specialists should I be seeing? Is it a coordinated effort between an OB/GYN, a cardiologist, and an internist? And more importantly—should I even be planning this given my health status? I know my medication list will definitely need to be swapped out for pregnancy-safe options.
I originally started consulting with Professor Goran Ivanišević over at Pronatal, but that was before this whole fibrillation episode happened. Now, I really need to find a top-tier cardiologist here in Washington, D.C., and I'm thinking about reaching out to Professor Drinković, too. But honestly, I would just love to hear from people who have lived through this firsthand.

Tyler Davis2 said:I wanted to start a new thread here because I’m honestly not sure where else to turn—I might end up asking this in a few different places too.

Has anyone here dealt with pregnancy while managing hypertension (high blood pressure) along with occasional tachycardia or fibrillation? I can't quite remember the exact medical term for the heart stuff... anyway, I'm really curious if anyone has been in my shoes and how you managed your prenatal care?

Also, if there's a better specific thread for this kind of thing, please let me know!

To give you some context, I'm 37. I have a healthy three-year-old daughter who was actually born prematurely at 30 weeks. Back during my first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, which hasn't gone away—I'm still on medication for it today. About a month ago, things took a scary turn; my blood pressure spiked suddenly, and I went into tachycardia and fibrillation—basically an arrhythmia, or whatever you want to call it. My heart was just racing wildly and irregularly, and it lasted for several hours until they finally got me back into a normal sinus rhythm with various medications.
Right now, my daily regimen includes half a tablet of Triamterene 5/25 in the morning, one Physiotens in the evening, one Concor, and one Matreferin.
I am planning to get pregnant again, and I’m trying to figure out how someone in my condition handles the process. What kind of specialists should I be seeing? Is it a coordinated effort between an OB/GYN, a cardiologist, and an internist? And more importantly—should I even be planning this given my health status? I know my medication list will definitely need to be swapped out for pregnancy-safe options.
I originally started consulting with Professor Goran Ivanišević over at Pronatal, but that was before this whole fibrillation episode happened. Now, I really need to find a top-tier cardiologist here in Washington, D.C., and I'm thinking about reaching out to Professor Drinković, too. But honestly, I would just love to hear from people who have lived through this firsthand.

I’m taking Concor once a day, and I just found out I’m pregnant... I’m thrilled but also freaking out. What did your doctor say about staying on that med?