19 Weeks Pregnant- Question.

Hi! I have to first admit that I usually only lurk on this forum, but I enjoy reading all the posts. I've just never had anything to really post about, other than I'm pregnant with twin girls However, I do have a question now. I have been diagnosed with Sinus Tachycardia (a regular heart rythm, but 100+ beats per minute). This condition affects me A LOT. I have about four episodes a day. I've been seeing the doctor for this, and yesterday they finally made a decision as to what they're going to do. They've put me on Anetelol (beta blocker), 25MG, once per day pills. I'm currently 19 weeks pregnant and I'm scared to death of what these pills can do to the twins. The doctor told me about the risks (could possibly stop the growth of the twins, they could have low blood pressure/low blood sugar when they're born), and I'm scared to take this medication. However, it's seriously affecting my life if I don't take it.

Has anyone else taken this medication? Or does anyone have a similar story?
Thanks so much in advance for anything you share. I plan to write more often on here I can't wait.

 

Sorry I have no advice but many warm positive thouhts!

 

No personal advice or experience but wanted to send you hugs and strength.

 

Were you diagnosed when you were pregnant or before? The reason I ask is because its normal for a pregnant woman of twins to have a heartrate of over 100 bpm. I had a very rapid heartbeat when I was 19 weeks along and was told that holding your breath for 30 seconds or so will help as well as breathing into a paperbag. Right now I'm on a medication to prevent contractions which raises my heartbeat to about 130bpm.
I don't really have any advice on the medication but wanted to give you a couple things to think about.
Just wondering but how high is your heartbeat rythm?

 

QUOTE(Kimani @ Oct 30 2008, 10:59 AM) [snapback]1048720[/snapback]
Were you diagnosed when you were pregnant or before? The reason I ask is because its normal for a pregnant woman of twins to have a heartrate of over 100 bpm. I had a very rapid heartbeat when I was 19 weeks along and was told that holding your breath for 30 seconds or so will help as well as breathing into a paperbag. Right now I'm on a medication to prevent contractions which raises my heartbeat to about 130bpm.
I don't really have any advice on the medication but wanted to give you a couple things to think about.
Just wondering but how high is your heartbeat rythm?



I was diagnosed during pregnancy, about 4 weeks ago. They are concerned because my HR has gotten to 145, and it's really affecting everything I do. Holding my breath doesn't help. It speeds up more. The episodes last for about 2 hours and happens about 4 times a day.

 

I don't think it ws exacgtly the same thing, but around where you are I had problems with intermittant (about 1-2X a week) sessions of my heart skipping-= first time was about 2 minutes straight and I almost passed out and it was absolutely awful. Once I almost passed out while driving which really scared me.
They put me on an 'event monitor' which didn't help (they only did for 24 hours and if this was happening a couple times a week, well duh....) my heart rate was also raised- pre-preg it was around 75-80 and resting it went up to 105-120 with episodes going up to 130. I don't remember what it was called but my perinatologist wasn't concerned and said it was common during pregnancy. Someone else in his office gave me meds (don't remember what they were called) that could slow the heart rate, he said it wouldn't hurt anything but I didn't trust him so I never took them.

My heartrate eventually started going down, but shortly after my BP increased and I got pre-E.

My question to you- is your condition life-threatening or possibly going to damage you long-term? If so, I think you need to take the meds. If not, is it something that stays in your system, or is it fast- acting (can you take it just take it when you need it, like driving, etc?) Are the side effects likely to effect the babies, or is it just possible? (What 'class' is it for during pregnancy?) These things might help you determine. There are virtually no A class drugs for pregnancy, most considered safe are B class, and most C class are probably safe as well but may pose slight risk. In a world where so many get sued they are likely to list side effects and warnings, etc. even if they are very slight, but then again, the risks might be real, too.

I'm sorry you have to go through this balencing act and go through this. I'd research the meds a little more and find out exactly how likely (including statistics) could affect the twins. When you think about it, there are a lot of babies born to people who abused drugs, drank, etc. If the risk is slight to them you may want to try it and have your doctors monitor them carefully/extra?

 

Hmmm, I might suggest a second opinion on this one from another dr? You don't want to mess around with your health and this sounds important. However, you also want whats best for your babies. Do you think there is another dr you could call and get a second opinion from?

 

QUOTE(mollyjm+2 @ Oct 30 2008, 03:58 PM) [snapback]1049229[/snapback]
Hmmm, I might suggest a second opinion on this one from another dr? You don't want to mess around with your health and this sounds important. However, you also want whats best for your babies. Do you think there is another dr you could call and get a second opinion from?


I don't think that it's going to be anything different since my doctor checked with the cardiologist I saw, and also consulted all five of the other doctors in her practice. I guess I could call the twin specialist I've been seeing to get his opinion.

 

QUOTE(mollyjm+2 @ Oct 30 2008, 03:58 PM) [snapback]1049229[/snapback]
Hmmm, I might suggest a second opinion on this one from another dr? You don't want to mess around with your health and this sounds important. However, you also want whats best for your babies. Do you think there is another dr you could call and get a second opinion from?

 

Wow, it does sound like you have a good team. I've never taken the stuff so I just don't know.
Sorry. I do hope the best for you guys :hug: .

 

Hi. First off, I'm sorry you are going through this scary situation. My story is not the same, but perhaps you can find some comfort in it.

When I was around 23 weeks pregnant, one of my twin girls developed Tachycardia. Her heart rate went down to 65 for a few days and then spent over 2 weeks around 230 bpm. I was admitted to the hospital when her heartrate first went up to 230 and they decided that some intervention needed to be taken. In order to get the medication to her, I needed to take an antiarithmia medication orally, in large doses (larger than what a person taking it for their own use would take) so that there was enough to cross the placenta. This meant that essentially all 3 of us were taking it - me in large doses, the baby that needed it and my baby that was developing normally. I started out on one medication that started with an "A" but I can't remember what it was called. That medication decreased my own blood pressure too much so they would not allow me to continue on it. I was then put on Digoxin which I took for the remainder of my pregnancy. After a few weeks it was successful in converting my daughter's heart back to a normal rhythm and I was discharged from the hospital (but continued on the medication). I went on to carry the girls to about 37 weeks. My girls are now 21 months and they are strong and healthy and beautiful (if i may say so myself!) with no side effects from the medication. My baby who had SVT spent 8 days in the NICU for other issues, but has not been on the medication since she was born and has a perfect steady heart rate. She was 6lbs 8oz at birth and is now off the growth chart for height and 90th percentile for weight - no growth issues here! My other little girl had no NICU time - they did take her to the intermediate nursery for a few hours to do an ECG just as a precaution, but everything was fine and she roomed with me from the day she was born. Both girls are developmentally on target and are ahead in some areas.

I am happy to answer any questions you might have for me.

 

When I am pregnant my heartrate always goes up. It was highest during the twin pregnancy at 118. And I didn't take any "medication" for it. I would definitely get a second opinion. One thing that helped me was to take the magnesium supplement called Natural Calm. Check it out on the internet. Whenever my heart was racing it would calm it down with in minutes of taking it. I did much better though when I took it consistantly. The other thing I've found that helps my heart calm down and not feel weird is taking a 1/2 tsp. of Cream of Tartar...yep the stuff probably in your cupboard. It's not going to hurt your babies. Actually midwives use it to bring blood pressure down in pregnant women. I didn't have that problem, but it still seems to help with my heart.

 

I am sorry I have no advise but hope u can get some soon. Congrats on your twin pregnancy! TWO GIRLS!! SO FUN

 

I took a hypertensive called Aldomet my ENTIRE pregnancy for blood pressure ( preconception to post partum). My girls had no issues that were not directly preemie related (born at 32 weeks).

I know it is not a beta blovker, but we were also told of low sugar/low-irregular systolic BP for babies born with moms takign Aldomet. My girls actually had high BP - but that is a common preemie issue and resovled w/in days.

Good luck--talk to your pharamasist abotu the safety and if you can get another opinon on yoru treatment.

 

I have SVT, Supraventricular tachycardia. I was diagnosed with it at approx. 6-7 weeks along. We found out then that we might be having twins! I went to the ER with a high heart rate of 180 bpm. The ER dr did an ultrasound since I said that I was pregnant and he thought he saw 2 sacs. They gave me a medicine via IV and it was awful. It was supposed to bring my heart rate back to normal but didn't. Eventually, I was taken to the Heart wing of the hospital and they had to shock my heart to bring it back to normal. Very scary, but I was under conscience sedation when they did it and I don't remember a thing! Since then, I have had 3 episodes. I can bring my heart rate back to normal by holding my breath for about 30 secs, let it out and do that about 10 times. That does help. The last time it happened, I also had a pinch nerve in my back. When my wonderful chiropractor checked my back, she touched the vertebrae that is connected to the heart and it was the one that really hurt. She adjusted my back and I haven't had an episode since. Now, that didn't cure it, but makes it better. I do see my chiro about every 2 weeks or so just to keep everything in line. Feels good too!

Oh, we did end up pregnant with twins and I am almost 31 weeks!