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I am also wondering if any one with transposition of the great vessels has had a normal experience with pregnancy and child birth.

I had a baby boy a little over a year ago, but unfortunately had major OB complications which were further complicated by the fact that I take coumadin for my mechanical aortic valve.   I have TGA and had an arterial switch done at the age of 8 and then had my aortic valve replaced at 19.  I am now 30, and got pregnant at 28.  I was on lovenox during the pregnancy until I started bleeding at 28 weeks and was admitted for hospital bedrest from then on, so I was put on drip heparin.  I would have had a "normal" pregnancy/delivery if I didn't have placenta previa.  He is a very healthy and happy boy, but he was born 2 months premature and spent 1 month in the NICU.  I was on hospital bedrest ofr 7 weeks prior to the c-section.  Are you thinking of having a baby?  I wish I could have talked to other women with my condition who have had a baby, but I didn't know anyone.  Pregnancy can already be a little anxiety provoking with so many changes, plus with a heart condition it's even more so.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. 

I am glad that you and your baby boy are doing well!! Yes, I am almost 25 and been married for over a year. We are planning on having a baby. I have talked with my cardiologist over the past few years and he seems to think that I will have a normal pregnancy. I had arterial switch at 10 days old and about 3 caths over the years. He says that I am healthy and my heart looks good. You are the second person that I have talked to with Transposition of the great vessels.

Hello!

Hi!

Sorry, I just sent a trial reply and that it's taken me so long to write back.  I've actually written twice, and both times my message disappeared after I tried to send it.  Not sure what happened.  That is great news that your cardiologist thinks you can have a baby.  Can I ask which hospital you normally go to?  If you're in the LA area I can recommend a great high risk OB.  Having a baby is such an amazing experience, I feel blessed that my husband and I were able to have a baby.  Do you have to take any medication for your heart?  I'm on coumadin so that was the main cardiac concern about my pregnancy since it can cause birth defects.  I had to plan my pregnancy and switch meds as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Do you know know when you're going to start trying?  It's such an exciting time!

That's great you were able to have your surgery so early and no interventions later.  Do you have any physical limitations or can you do whatever you want?  I've been veriy very lucky that after my first surgery, I've been able to do pretty much everything.  Anyways, hope you have a very easy and wonderful pregnancy once that happens.  Let me know if you have any questions or if you need any referrals!! 

Kristin

Hi Marissa,

My name is Jennifer.  I have a daughter Marisa, who is now 11 and is perfectly healthy.  I had her at the age of 27.  I had the surgery to correct my heart deffect at 18 months and then they removed scar tissue at 3 1/2 which caused a great number of complications.  I had the mustard procedure done, which they stopped doing in the late '80s.  I'm not sure what type of procedure you had.  When I  became pregnant I was not on any medication, nor had I been since my surgery.  I started off having a very normal pregnancy.  At 34 weeksI passed out and my heart rate was 268 bpm.  They were able to stabalize me and I was in the hospital for 2 weeks before delivering my daughter.  I had a vaginal delivery and everything went well, especially considering I was experiencing atrial fiberlation.  After my delivery my heart was shocked back into rhythm and I was put on coumadin for awhie.  When my daughter was 2 months old the same thing happened again, I passed out with my heart beating 268 bpm.  Through massive testing it was decided I needed a pacemaker.  Since then I have been put on Betapace and Coumadin.  I have had very few problems.  My recommendation to you is that if your cardiologist says that your heart is strong enough for you to carry and deliver a baby - have a baby.  Despite all of the complications that I have gone through I would do it all again in a heartbeat.  I went in knowing that there would be complications with either myself and/or my daughter. While I was married my pregnancyy was not planned so the more control you and your doctors can have over your pregnancy the better.  I wish you only the best.

Jennifer