pregnant with Malignant Hyperthermia

I'm pregnant with Malignant Hyperthermia & I'm 36. This is my first child. I'm looking for any info. that will make me feel secure. I'm scared that something bad will happen. Is there anyone who has this & has had a baby? Or anything I should know?

[sm8]

Many pregnant MH patients wonder if there are limitations placed upon them during pregnancy and delivery. They should be pleased to know that no special care is necessary during the antenatal period. However, it is recommended that all MHS women are referred to a hospital with specialist obstetric and anaesthetic services familiar with the management of malignant hyperthermia. The antenatal record must be labeled clearly if the woman is MHS or if her partner is an MHS individual.

When an MHS woman in labour arrives in the delivery suite, the anaesthesiologist on duty must be notified. This allows time to prepare an MH dedicated anaesthetic machine and make sure that Dantrolene and other resuscitation drugs are immediately available. Labour, although an intensely stressful event, has not been documented to trigger an MH episode. With proper monitoring, natural childbirth may be attempted. For pain relief during labour, narcotics can be given as needed. However, there are some distinct advantages in using epidural anaesthesia for pain control. All local anaesthetics including the amide group commonly used in epidural anaesthesia are safe. It allows the woman a restful labour and to be ready for potential operative deliveries. If emergency caesarean section is called for, general anaesthesia is avoided.

Spinal anaesthesia may also be used safely for urgent caesarean section in women without an epidural catheter. In the rare event where general anaesthesia is necessary, special technique avoiding the triggering agents and inhalational anaesthetics can be used. Dantrolene prophylaxis, although demonstrated to be safe for the newborn, is generally not necessary.

For an MHN woman whose partner is MHS, similar anaesthetic management is necessary to avoid complications in the newborn, who has a 50% chance of being MHS. Potent inhalational agents cross the placenta rapidly.

The use of pitocin and prostaglandins in the management of complicated labour and postpartum bleeding is safe. Similarly, Magnesium sulphate which is commonly used to treat pregnancy induced hypertension is also safe.

The stress of birth has not been observed to trigger an MH episode in MHS newborn. Therefore, careful routine observation of the newborn in the early postpartum period is adequate.

In conclusion, with proper and timely precautions, MHS women and MHN women with MHS partners can enjoy the same safe and gratifying experience in pregnancy and childbirth as their MHN counterparts.

Found this on this website

http://www.mhacanada.org/pregnancy.htm

Hope it help's.  Good Luck!!