Mum and baby’s fight to survive

Pregnancy
Mum and Baby's Fight for Survival
Source: Mind Your Body, The Straits Times April 15, 2010
By April Chong
This 27-year-old had a difficult pregnancy and had to have an emergency Caesarian operation to save her baby and herself after she suffered complications due to her pre-existing heart condition. Throughout her pregnancy last year, housewife Jenny Lim (not her real name) and her baby battled for their lives. Madam Lim, 27, has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition where her heart muscles are thickened, making it harder for blood to be pumped from the heart. Her father had the same disease. As a child, she would get breathless, have chest pains and frequent fainting spells, while her classmates could run around freely. She had to rely on medication to keep her blood pressure down and her blood vessels open so that blood could flow freely. She got married in 2008 and her gynaecologist advised her not to become pregnant. She was told that she could suffer heart failure and that her baby would have a one-in-two chance of developing heart defects. A situation might arise in which her husband would have to choose between saving her or their child. “But we wanted kids,” said Madam Lim, who was overjoyed when she became pregnant last year. Bed rest from the second trimester However, with her elation came pregnancy complications. She suffered heart palpitations, breathlessness and giddy spells which got worse as her pregnancy progressed and she had to be put on bed rest from her second trimester. She was unable to take medication for her condition because it could have affected her baby’s development. At the end of eight months, her condition took a turn for the worse. Her feet swelled on Christmas eve, a worrying sign for someone with her disease. Her breathlessness became so bad that she had to force herself to yawn constantly so that she could get oxygen. Her contractions had also started and her cervix was dilated. Doctors wanted to stop the dilation because the baby was still premature. A scan revealed she had water in her lungs and doctors ordered an emergency Caesarean operation. The baby had to be delivered to save both his life and hers. Madam Lim’s baby boy, prematurely delivered and not breathing, was rushed to neonatal intensive care. However, things got better from then on and now, more than three months later, mum and baby are back home. Madam Lim said that her son now cries so loudly the whole neighbourhood can hear him. He has to be checked by a paediatrician every month and it is still too early to tell if he has inherited his mother and grandfather’s heart problems. Madam Lim, who is back on medication for her condition, hopes to have three children eventually. “I feel very lucky that both of us are alive. Being able to have a child is a gift to me.”
Health problems in pregnancy Pre-existing heart diseases aside, Assistant Professor Tan Thiam Chye from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital said that these are some of the other health problems that pregnant women may encounter: ■ Pregnancy-induced hypertension The actual cause is not known but those at risk include first-time mothers, those above 35 years of age, those with twins or triplets and those with pre-existing hypertension or diabetes. ■ Gestational diabetes Diabetes can occur in pregnancy when the body does not produce adequate amounts of the hormone insulin to deal with sugar control. ■ Frequent urination Pregnancy increases the amount of fluids in the body and urine production. Later on, the expanding womb also presses on the bladder. ■ Headaches This is caused by hormonal changes in the body. ■ Backaches The baby’s weight puts increased stress on the back. ■ Constipation Food moves along more slowly in the intestines, which are compressed by the womb. ■ Heartburn This is caused by the slowing down of the digestive tract and relaxation of the muscles at the opening of the stomach, resulting in the reflux of acidic gastric juice. ■ Swelling of the legs This is common as the body retains more fluid and the growing womb adds pressure to the legs, causing them to swell. ■ Numbness in the hands This is commonly associated with a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome, where the median nerve in the hand is compressed by the swelling encountered during pregnancy. ■ Haemorrhoids or piles Pregnancy causes blood vessels in the rectal region to become engorged. ■ Varicose veins They occur as the expanding womb puts pressure on the blood vessels, causing them to enlarge.