I'm pregnant! 9 weeks. There were times last year when I wondered if I'd ever be able to say those words. I'm 35 years old, and I was diagnosed exactly 1 year ago with a brain aneurysm, 5mm in my left MCA. I had a clipping surgery on October 28th. It went well, and my doctor gave me the all clear for pregnancy.
First- things I'm grateful for: 1- how EASY it was to get pregnant at 35. I wasn't sure. 2- I'm in perfect health, great blood pressure 3- So relieved this aneurysm was found before I got pregnant in the first place.
On to my questions/fears/terrifying thoughts! For anyone who has been through pregnancy after clipping:
1. Were you considered high risk?
2. Did you have a planned c-section?
3. How were you monitored during pregnancy? Anything unique?
4. Any restrictions or limitations due to the aneurysm? Exercise was still ok?
5. Any issues following birth? Any new aneurysms?
My GP doesn't really know how to deal with me. She has referred me to a high risk clinic, but they are taking their time getting back to me. I prefer to have all the facts so I can obsess over them myself :)
I will have to miss my 1 year post-surgical follow-up scan, but my surgeon is not worried. He said to come after the baby is born and it should be fine.
Thanks again to all of the experts out there for your help! I'm glad to be obsessing over something a little more positive this time around!
I'll be following your post for responses. We have two little girls and always thought we wanted at least three kids.... until I had clippping 3/20/2013. That surgery really turned my life upside down. It's only been the last six months that I'm even close to being "me" again.... so up until now pregnancy and adding more kids to the family was out of the picture for us. Now I'd like to give myself a good year of feeling more normal before we even decide on something so life changing.
anyway, I'd love to hear answers to your questions because I'm super interested. congratulations again and I pray you will have a super healthy pregnancy. Children are such miracles :)
First of all CONGRATULATIONS. How exciting for you to be expecting a baby. Good news. Wishing the best for you in the coming months. Can't give you the advice you are seeking, but am happy for your good news.
Congrats!! I was thrilled when I had my son after my clipping! It is definitely a nerve-wracking time..but I promise..babies are worth it!
1. Were you considered high risk? Yes, my pregnancy with Aaden was high risk. I had a hard time finding a doctor who was knowledgeable in brain trauma, but eventually we found one who trusted us, just as much as we trusted her. Of course, we frantically were visiting specialist after specialist after specialist..but success was found! The key word with your doctors should be that you have a plate replacing a portion of your skull. The location of my plate and clip next to my temple was so crucial and something every specialist "missed".
2. Did you have a planned c-section? Yes, we had a plan c-section 2 weeks prior to my due date.
3. How were you monitored during pregnancy? Anything unique? I kept a "headache" notebook, I would monitor any headaches that were "out of the ordinary".
4. Any restrictions or limitations due to the aneurysm? Exercise was still ok? Exercise was okay, this of course is case by case.
5. Any issues following birth? Any new aneurysms? I haven't had any major side effects due to birth, of course, as we all know, pregnancy and labor will not cause aneurysms. The only difficult issue I have now is occasionally dealing with overbearing head aches and a loud tot! :)
Babies are such a blessing! I vote Annie if the baby is a girl and Andy if the baby is a boy!
Just to let you know, we have 4 children, 3 of whom were born AFTER my aneurysm. In fact, I got pregnant with our second child within 2 years of my aneurysm. I was 35 when I had our now 13 year old (who is doing AWESOME in school), and 39 for our third, and 40 almost 41 for our last. I had all four through c-section. I was watched a little closer during our second, and everything was fine. Everything has been fine with the other two, so don't be paranoid, you'll do just fine. If you want to talk about things during your pregnancy, pm me or if you are on facebook, we can become friends there as well. I would LOVE to know how your pregnancy goes and it can be done AFTER having an aneurysm.
Wonderful news - congratulations! I had my aneurysm clipped after my children were born but it looks like you are getting some good advice. Take care and try not to worry…your beautiful baby will be here before you know it.
Kit, congratulations with your pregnancy! How exciting! If you have not already found it, I created a group a few years back when I found myself asking many of the same questions. It holds many success stories and feedback… Which hopefully will help along with the replies you’ve already received below. http://www.bafsupport.org/group/pregnancy-after-aneurysm-diagnosis-treatment.
I was coiled and was given the green light to try again after my 6 mo followup and no concern was made by my Neuro regarding delivery means… though I would have had to have a c section anyway for other reasons. Unfortunately post-Annie pregnancy didn’t work out for us… hormones of fertility treatments (Fallopian tubes blocked & removed) kept bringing new symptoms that made us too anxious to keep trying. As hard as a choice as it remains, we decided to leave well enough alone; maybe my tubes were blocked for a reason!? Now just praying for a door to open as we explore adoption possibilities and how to afford it.
Had pregnancy worked out, my OB planned to watch my BP closely as it was elevated in pregnancy #1 pre-Annie bleed. I was 37 when my son was born… Which may have been a factor with my BP and being “high risk” then. Probably “lucky” in retrospect; had she not been conservative and placed me on bedrest the last 5 weeks who knows where we’d be. We had no idea my Annie was there and growing. So I totally get it and agree … What a blessing you found it beforehand.
Good luck to you; I get goosebumps as I hear you ladies living out your dreams. Children truly are a blessing! Please keep us posted on your own success story!!
Thanks everyone for the advice and support! I have my first appointment with a high risk clinic in a couple of weeks. I'll keep everyone updated. I'm curious what they will say about the c-section, and whether it will be planned. In truth- I hope it is. I think the anxiety of worrying about aneurysms during a natural delivery would be horrible.
But so far- feeling great and trying to stay positive!
Please do keep us posted as your pregnancy progresses. I know we are all cheering for you and wish you well. Here's to a happy, healthy baby and mommy.
Congratulations, I had a ruptured aneurysm 8 months after giving birth to my second child, so I already had the aneurysm during pregnancy and birth, I just didn't know. I was schedule to have a natural birth but due to other complications it had to be a C-section, and now I'm sure it was destiny because I would probably had died during labor if it was a natural birth. My daughter was such an important part of my recovery, when I was really down, I thought, I have this baby that depends on me so I just kept moving forward. So I basically had a baby to take care immediately after clipping and it's very draining but it's all worth it.
Paula, wow...and yes! I feel the same way about my C-section; so fortunate. I am a true believer that some things happen in the sequence they did for a reason... fortunately we are both now here for our little ones because of it! So nice to know part of your story and your success.
Paula said:
Congratulations, I had a ruptured aneurysm 8 months after giving birth to my second child, so I already had the aneurysm during pregnancy and birth, I just didn't know. I was schedule to have a natural birth but due to other complications it had to be a C-section, and now I'm sure it was destiny because I would probably had died during labor if it was a natural birth. My daughter was such an important part of my recovery, when I was really down, I thought, I have this baby that depends on me so I just kept moving forward. So I basically had a baby to take care immediately after clipping and it's very draining but it's all worth it.
Congratulations!!!! What a beautiful gift life has brought to you. I was 35 and pregnant when my aneurysm ruptured, they coiled it temporarily as they couldn't clip it since I was only 5 months pregnant and knew they would have to clip it after the birth. Hope these answers help you:
1. Were you considered high risk? Yes absolutely
2. Did you have a planned c-section? Yes I definitely was not allowed to push or force in any way
3. How were you monitored during pregnancy? Anything unique? Very closely on a weekly basis to make sure everything was going smoothly as planned, as the High-Risk Obstetrician said " my job is to make sure you leave this hospital alive with a beautiful healthy baby"
4. Any restrictions or limitations due to the aneurysm? Exercise was still ok? No restrictions or limitations other than not over do it, rest, enjoy life and the process. I was told, turn the page and move on with my life, enjoy my kids to the fullest, if it seems like too much = don't do it.
5. Any issues following birth? Any new aneurysms? Aside from having the biggest claws any Mamma Bear can have, no issues health-wise and no new aneurysms. It'll be 12 years since the aneurysm.
My GP or my Obstetrician did not foresee my aneurysm even if the very subtle symptoms were very present. If you're worried the clinic hasn't called you back, call again until you get a response or show up in person if you have to, absolutely no harm in that.
In my opinion, give yourself permission to enjoy every moment and try not to over obsess or control too many things as you'll miss out on many precious moments this life can offer that will bring you such bliss :)
