Okay, so I’ve been meaning to document this whole POTS and pregnancy thing, and I finally got around to it. It’s been a wild ride, to say the least!
My POTS Journey During Pregnancy
First off, let me tell you, finding out I was pregnant was a HUGE surprise. I mean, I knew it was possible, but with my POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), I always figured it would be… complicated. And yep, I was right.
The Beginning: Early on, it was mostly just a lot of “What the heck is happening?!” My usual POTS symptoms, like the dizziness and rapid heartbeat, seemed to go into overdrive. I remember calling my doctor, like, a million times, freaking out about every little thing. I spent half the time lying down, trying not to pass out.
Getting a Handle on It: I did get a better handle as to control it. One thing I really did was up my salt and fluid intake. It was like i become a full-time water-drinking, salty-snack-eating machine. My doctor told me it would help with blood volume, and I swear, it did make a difference. Compression socks also became my new best friends, even though they’re not exactly the most glamorous things, they help so much with the lightheadedness!
- More Salt!
- More Water!
- Compression socks are life!
The Middle: The second trimester was… okay, I guess? I mean, as okay as things can be when you’re growing a human and dealing with a chronic illness. I still had my bad days, where all I could do was curl up on the couch, but I also had some pretty good days, where I actually felt somewhat normal. I even managed to do some gentle exercise, like short walks and prenatal yoga. That felt like a HUGE win.
Adjusting Meds: This part was tricky. I was on some medication for POTS before I got pregnant, and we had to seriously adjust things. Some meds were totally off-limits, others we lowered the dose… It was a constant balancing act, trying to manage my symptoms without harming the baby. I have to say, i got the most professional doctor I could find. I’m so grateful for my medical team.
The Homestretch: Woah, the third trimester. Honestly, it was rough. The extra weight put a LOT of strain on my body, and my POTS symptoms flared up again. I felt like a beached whale most of the time. I had to take it super easy, and really listen to my body. If I felt dizzy, I sat down, no questions asked. I just kept reminding myself that it was all temporary, and it was all for my little one.
Delivery Day: Giving birth was… an experience. We had a plan in place with my doctors, and everyone was aware of my POTS. I ended up having an epidural, which helped a lot with the pain and kept my heart rate from spiking too much. It was a long, exhausting process, but holding my baby for the first time made all the struggles completely worth it.
Postpartum: After the birth. I’m still figuring things out, honestly. My POTS is still there, of course, and I’m dealing with all the usual postpartum stuff, too. It’s a lot to juggle, but I’m taking it one day at a time. Finding support from other moms, especially other moms with chronic illnesses, has been a lifesaver.
So, yeah, that’s my POTS and pregnancy story. It’s been messy, challenging, and beautiful, all at the same time. If you’re going through something similar, just know you’re not alone!
