Hi everyone. I had a rupture brain AVM successfully removed in 2017, when I first joined here. I recently got pregnant and my doctors are very concerned about the possibility of regeneration of the AVM and the stress of labor on my brain. Has anyone else had a successful pregnancy with an AVM or removed AVM?? Any suggestions or encouragement? I’m most scared of a rupture during labor.
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Hi, Alexandra!
I had a ruptured AVM surgically removed YEARS ago. My surgeon never mentioned any cautions to me regarding pregnancy, or any activity for that matter. Was the neurosurgeon absolutely sure he had removed it all? Did you ever have a post-op arteriogram? (I never did.). Has your health been stable?
I am NOT a doctor, but don’t see why an AVM would regenerate. It’s an anomaly that has been removed. Perhaps your doctors should contact your neurosurgeon or even other neurosurgeons to discuss your case.
I can understand your anxiety, especially when your obstetrician or primary physician convey their trepidation! Have them research the questions to your satisfaction.
Life is good
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My question is why going through labor when you are at risk according to the doctor. Why not C section to remove risk? Just wondering. Best of luck . Also if it was removed, why do they worry about a rupture?
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We are considering c-section but there does seem to be some concern about the stress of pregnancy on my brain. My doctor is concerned that the AVM may have regenerated so she is concerned about a rupture if it regenerated.
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If the doc is concerned that the AVM may have regenerated somewhat, then perhaps that is something to look explicitly at and decide one way or the other. Perhaps get more than one opinion on the state of things and your safety to go through pregnancy as well as labour (or a c-section).
I’ve had a bit of a read around and angiogenesis as part of pregnancy, driven by hormone changes etc seems to be a thing – even a monthly thing for some people – so I guess it is important to understand what your specific risks are by a doctor understanding your current scans.
We have a host of ladies who have either gone through pregnancy or considered the same questions. I can see recently the following ladies discussing their concerns about hormones and pregnancy: @Lauren3 @Suraya @Blessing @hmg @Sarah26 @bettybo @Summer010824 @Maryg @HeatherC. I can see some who have had treatment for their AVM and a bunch who’ve not had an obliteration.
Hopefully we can get some to share their experience or understanding.
Best wishes,
Richard
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I was diagnosed with a spinal (C1-C7) AVF in 2023 and underwent embolization to cure it. It was during my pregnancy (2004) that AVF symptoms really ramped up significantly. I had a natural birth because at the time I didn’t know I had an AVF…but looking back…had I known I would have definitely opted for a c-section. I got through the birth ok but unfortunately had severe neck/back pain for the next 20 years until I was diagnosed and treated.
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Hello! First of all congratulations on your pregnancy!
I was pregnant and gave birth with an untreated AVM,that I didn’t know about.Everything went well!(I had a c section for other reasons). No rupture until 3 years after the baby.
I recently visited my gynaecologist,who advised me though not to risk it with another baby,because of what your doctors advised you also…
In my opinion in your case the AVM has been treated,and just has a risk of regrowing,that doesn’t mean it will rupture too.You ll just have to keep an eye on it.
A bonus story is about a mom I was talking to,with an untreated AVM that had 3 pregnancies and didn’t have a problem…
My advise would be, enjoy your pregnancy,don’t think too much of things you have no control into and everything will go well!Possitive thoughts,think only of your baby!
Best wishes, Despina
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Oh well spotted! I hadn’t realised that @Alexandra was already pregnant! Congratulations!
I have to agree that there are multiple people among those I mentioned who have gone through this successfully, even in several cases where no treatment had been done.
Do cross examine your doctor to understand whether there are any things you can do to be as safe as possible and/or get more than one opinion, I think.
Very best wishes,
Richard
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Thank you all so much! This has been very helpful. I had a follow up angiogram after surgery as well as an MRI and ct. Everything looked very good. I have had some bad headaches/migraines in recent years but no symptoms like I had with the rupture. I was also cleared by my surgeon once we followed for about a year after surgery to live a normal life with no limitations so a lot of this is just a shock of needing to consider this again.
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Thank you for that! I suppose I’m at a loss of what to ask or consider right now. I mainly want to advocate for a c-section to avoid the intense intracranial pressure of labor but I’m not aware of how to minimize risk throughout the pregnancy or who to even ask. I’m not established with a neurologist or surgeon and we’ve unfortunately been kicked around to different OB’s due to the complexity of my pregnancy.
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I’m no expert at all. I guess the questions are:
- What residual AVM have you got (if any)? And therefore, with the hormone changes that go on in trimester 2 or 3 what might that mean (if anything)?
- Is there anything you can do to reduce any risks during those trimesters? (and I’m guessing that it is the mid or later stages that everything gets a bit more intense, that’s why I’m saying 2 or 3 but I am just guessing)
It does sound sensible to consider a c-section but again, it would be good to validate with someone expert in the right areas whether that is important or not.
I feel like it is much better to get advice than either to worry your way through the whole process unnecessarily or to subject yourself to risks that you could avoid or reduce. So that’s why a bit of cross examination (and I mean like a barrister in a court of law, making sure that all of the relevant questions are asked) is important. I do approach the world from the point of view of the analyst, though!! Most people are not like me at all!!
Lots of love,
Richard
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I’m pregnant with my 4th baby. I have a spinal AVM in t9-t10. I knew I had my AVM before I got pregnant. There isn’t much research into AVM’s and pregnancy and every women is different in how her body will cope with the pregnancy. I’ve had no issues at all during pregnancy and my neurosurgeon wasn’t concerned about me having another baby as I’ve now had multiple successful pregnancy without incident.
However, it was recommended for me to have a c-section as the high pressure and stress of labour could cause my AvM to burst. I also go under a general anaesthetic due to my AVM being in & around my spinal cord to reduce any risk of it rupturing.
C-sections are a good choice for women with AVM’s as it does reduce the risk of rupture but since yours has been removed the risk may not be an issue. Also you won’t know about and regrowth until you’re further along and can see what your body does. I have yearly MRI’s to monitor for changes. Only last year were there some slight changes and I’m going in for an MRI today to see if anymore have occurred. I don’t however have any symptoms so that’s promising.
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Hi Alexandra. I have a cerebellar AVM and have had two children. Luckily I wasn’t ever advised that pregnancy could be an issue, or I might not have had them. But I wasn’t. It wasn’t even until the end of my first pregnancy that I was told I should have a C Section. Anyway, I did that both times and it was fine. I was fairly ill during my first pregnancy - a lot of headaches and what I thought was morning sickness. Could have been a coincidence though as second time round I didn’t suffer at all. Very best of luck with whatever you decide.
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Congratulations! I will not advise you one way or another but I will just share my personal experience. I had two healthy pregnancies and two home water births without even knowing I had a left occipital lobe AVM. My blood pressure is naturally low and remained low through both my pregnancies as well. They were born 2005 and 2009. My AVM ruptured the first time in 2018. Chose not to have it surgically removed due to risk to my vision. AVM ruptured a 2nd time in 2023. I then had an embolization and I am now considered AVM free.
Everyone’s AVM is unique to them like a fingerprint. While I had healthy pregnancies and deliveries with my AVM, there are so many factors involved like age, overall health, size and location of the AVM, etc. Given that your AVM has already been treated is wonderful! Finding the right care team to keep you and baby healthy and respect your wishes within those healthy realms is so important. There is also the weight of this fear on your mental health. Is there anyway at some point in your pregnancy that they can confirm you are still AVM free? That would alleviate the mental strain and unnecessary change of birth plans. Either way, try to enjoy to the fullest your pregnancy and how amazing your body is to create, grow, nurture, and protect your unborn child!
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Hi Alexandra,
I’m not a doctor so recommend professional advice, but I would consult a neurosurgeon with experience with AVMs. GPs are unlikely to have significant experience or understanding of AVMs and the risks of regrowth. I can’t find any studies suggesting that pregnancy is associated with regrowth of previously resected AVMs, but that doesn’t mean it’s never happened.
There are two studies that I am aware of on pregnancy for women with brain AVMs. One is a Chinese study that suggests no significant additional risks, and another which I think was a retrospective US study that suggests a ‘slight’ increase in risks in the third trimester. But it also says it’s not enough to advise against pregnancy. This is for women with still existing AVMs, so I would have thought the advise for those with cured AVMs would be similar or more favourable. However I assume neurosurgeons may feel differently about specific AVMs / patients. It’s worth getting in touch with the surgeon that cured yours I would say.
All the best
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I actually did not know I had an avm untill after I had my 3 kids. Oddly enough I had 3 c sections so maybe it worked out for the best.What probably also helped was that I always had a really low blood pressure. I would say I think the stress of pregnancy is what caused me to find my avm. I had a seizure 6 months post partum but hard to know. Hope you have a great outcome! Any questions you may have about my pregnancies, let me know.
Hi Alexandra,
Congratulations on your pregnancy.
I had five successful pregnancies with an undiagnosed large brain AVM 
. I had no issues whatsoever luckily. My AVM was discovered 12 years after my last child. I hope this reassures you a little that you can have a successful pregnancy with an AVM, but as always each AVM is unique.
Wishing you all the best on your upcoming arrival. Amanda xx.
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