Hi Lisa,
My name is Leanne.
I have had a successful pregnacy after stroke.
I don't often share my story, but here goes!
I had my stroke 20 years ago, just after I turned 40, my stroke was minor, as well. In fact unless I tell people I have had a stroke, they have no idea, and even when I do some don't believe me.
I had already had children, and an ectopic pregnancy, so I only have 1 fallopian tube. My doctor had advised me before my stroke, I had a very low chance of falling pregnant. I had asked because I had a new partner, and was not on birth control.
My new partner and I had not been dating long before I had my stroke, and we are still together.
I was 42 when I found out I was pregnant again, I was shocked to say the least.
Being an older mum, who had had a stroke was an interesting eperience. The first words of the obstetrician I was referred to, in the small NSW town we lived in were 'Of course you are not going to carry to term'. I was devstated, and went back to my GP, who was horrified, and referred me to an obstetrician in a larger area, who specialised in IVF and older (Geriatric) mums.
During my pregnancy, we moved to Melbourne, where I was under the care of my GP and the antenatal clinic at Monash Hospital. I was a public patient, they were wonderful.
To ensure I had the best chance of a successful pregnancy, I saw a neurologist, who cleared me to swap blood thinners for aspirin, as the obstetrics team were more comfortable with that.
I had a heart function test, to confirm I would be able to have a natural birth, as I had previously had a natural birth after a caesarean, and that comes with its own complications.
I had high blood pressure, in my last 3 weeks, and I had gestational diabetes, managed with diet and excersise.
Some of those things were related to my age, and my previous pregnancies, so would have happened anyway.
At the end of 9 months, and 4 days, we had a beautiful, healthy, perfect baby girl, who is now a beautiful, lovely (mostly) 17 year old young lady. My partners' only child.
Any pregnancy comes with risks, so my advice would be to talk with your health team, your support team, and any one else you need to. Find antenatal care that you trust and are comfortable with. I am so glad my GP referred me to a different obstetrician, as I felt I would not get the care I needed from the one with the attitude.
I was unprepared for how tired I was, but I suspect some of that is my age, as well as the fact I had a stroke.
I wish you all the best on your journey, wherever that takes you.
Sorry if my story is a bit disjointed, I tried to not have it be 5000 words long, lol, so that means trying to give you the highlights, and what I think are the important bits, without the filler.
