If you are a mom-to-be or planning to be and suffer from atrial fibrillation, a common type of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, there are various things you have to know. You must be wondering how does this condition affect pregnancy. Fortunately, thousands of women deliver healthy babies besides suffering from atrial fibrillation every year. Nevertheless, you will have to work closely with your physician. So, here is everything you need to know for atrial fibrillation while planning a pregnancy or being pregnant.

Planning the Pregnancy

First and foremost, it’s important to note that you can have a safe pregnancy with atrial fibrillation. However, you might be required to see your doctor more often than usual in order to help prevent complications.

Women with atrial fibrillation usually take blood thinners, which are the most common medications that cause the fetus to be at risk. Other such medications can be medications that try to maintain a normal rhythm and medications to slow the heart down.

Hence, you should definitely discuss it with your doctor who will advice you which medications you should stop taking before getting pregnant. This is important to be done when planning to have a baby as such medications can harm the baby’s development in the first trimester.

What Happens During Pregnancy

While you are pregnant, your body makes more blood than usual and the flow of blood goes more to the uterus. Moreover, there are extra hormones which can change how organs, including your heart, and blood vessels work. Consequently, the heart rate speeds up and the heart actually grows.

In fact, there are plenty of healthy women who start noticing heart palpitations during pregnancy. So, if you have atrial fibrillation, it is very likely that you will notice heart rhythm issues. During pregnancy is the time when many women actually start having atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is most likely to occur during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Moreover, atrial fibrillation which is not treated can make heart problems more likely and people with untreated with atrial fibrillation are more likely to deliver a low birth weight baby, give birth too early, and to have pregnancy complications. Due to these risks, you might be required to have extra appointments with your doctor, obstetrician, and a cardiologist.

Medicines While You’re Pregnant

Whether and which atrial fibrillation medications you are going to take while you are pregnant depend on the case and the severity of atrial fibrillation. Most of the atrial fibrillation medications pose a risk on the pregnancy, such as premature labor or miscarriages. Hence, your doctor will be the one who will determine if you will switch medications or stop taking them completely.

Some of the most common medications for atrial fibrillation which should be avoided during pregnancy include antiarrhythmia drugs, blood-thinning medications, verapamil and diltiazem.

Many atrial fibrillation medications safe during pregnancy, such as aspirin or heparin, which will thin your blood and reduce the risk of blood clots. Doctors always prefer beta-blockers metoprolol and atenolol over other beta-blockers during pregnancy. Additionally, other safe medications are considered to be digoxin and quinidine.

When to Call Your Doctor

If you have atrial fibrillation, you should look for signs which might indicate that you gave blood clots, such as fast heartbeat, lightheadedness, trouble breathing, swelling, chest pain, trouble speaking, vision changes, and sudden weakness or numbness of your face, arm, or leg.

It’s also important to mention that your medications might change near the end of your pregnancy. You shouldn’t be taking any blood thinners immediately before or during labor and delivery. Moreover, during labor, your doctor will track your heart. Then, after your baby is born, you will probably be able to take blood-thinning medicines again.