Kari

[carriep]

Hey
Did you say that your 28-30 week echo was around 50%? I just had my 28 and that's what it read. My cardio isn't upset with the results and 50 is still respectable. I just don't like it when my prepg echo was 65%. The nurse asked me if I felt fine otherwise and not short of breath.....I said did she remember being in her 3rd trimester and not being sob...I have feet in my lungs.
Just curious and not trying to beat myself up about it:)
Hope you are feeling good and excited to deliver this week

[heartfulloflove]

Hi :) I'm new and I don't mean to butt in or anything, but I've been reading (and I mean hours and hours and hours every day) on PPCM, outcomes, subsequent pregnancies and so on - and it seems that if you make it into the third trimester with an EF% 50+, you're doing really really well.

Many of the case studies I've found on PPCM subsequent pregnancies is that EF doesn't rise as much as it normally would, but that it is not a bad prognostic sign.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, and I hope you and baby are both very well :)

[SarahsMom]

Hey Carrie,

My 1st trimester echo was 60% - 65%. 2nd Echo same as 1st trimester. 3rd Trimester was 57%. My doctor was not concerned at all about the dip, he said it was perfectly normal for the amount of work that is put on the heart at this juncture. My potassium and iron were both really low and I was put on a prescribed supplements for both. I would have your doctor check your electrolytes...SORRY, can't help but thinking low potassium contributes to PPCM (just my personal opinion). I've been feeling great ever since they got the levels right...I feel I was heading down the wrong path when the levels were low!!! PLEASE keep a close eye on them. How was your heart size?

You're alomost there and doing GREAT!!!! Can't wait to hear about your bundle of joy very soon! I'll tell you all about mine and let you know my heart function post-partum (another juncture which scares me a smidge).

Take care of yourself!

Love,
Kari

[tabs]

Carrie,

Are you getting another echo after the 32 week mark? I was just wondering since it seems that many of the others also had their echos 28-30 week. I, too, had mine at 30 weeks, we thought that we were closer to 32, and it did not pick up my drop. I was told that 32 weeks was when the last increase in blood volume occurs.

Twilah

[carriep]

Thanks for responses ladies!
I had my levels checked 2 weeks ago and I was a smidge, smidge, smidge anemic (nothing to write home about). Everything else looked really good. Not to mention my bnp was 15 as well, so the cardios office wasn't too upset by what came in. We know how off the echos can be as it is. The heart size was within normal range as well. I do know that an echo came back at one time as 50 and my cardio said based on the size of the valves, etc, I was actually in upper 60s.
I have had NO swelling at all and am fatigued generallly at night after I take my Toprol (just started about a week ago).
I will have another echo at 32 and 36 weeks. After that, he's going to induce at 38-39 weeks. I'll be ready.
I'm really not too worried as I walk everyday and keep up with a 2 year old. Its just so hard not to get wrapped up in that stupid number!
Thanks again.

[tabs]

That is so wonderful! You are really sounding like you are doing great.
Twilah