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Heart problems and pregnancy: Know the risks
What can I expect during prenatal visits?
During pregnancy, you'll see your health care provider often. Your weight and blood pressure will likely be checked at every visit, and you may need frequent blood and urine tests. Your health care provider may use various tests to evaluate your heart function. For example:
- Echocardiogram, a test that uses sound waves to produce images of the heart
- Electrocardiogram, a test that records the heart's electrical activity
How can I make sure my baby is OK?
Your health care provider will closely monitor your baby's development throughout the pregnancy. Ultrasound exams may be used to track your baby's growth. Specialized ultrasounds may be used to detect any fetal heart abnormalities. Your baby may need monitoring or treatment after delivery as well.
What can I do to prevent complications?
Taking good care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby. For example:
- Keep your prenatal appointments. Visit your health care provider regularly throughout your pregnancy.
- Take your medication as prescribed. Your health care provider will prescribe the safest medication at the most appropriate dose.
- Get plenty of rest. Take a daily nap, if you can, and avoid strenuous physical activities. Bed rest may be recommended in some cases.
- Monitor your weight. Gaining the right amount of weight supports your baby's growth and development, but gaining too much weight places additional stress on your heart.
- Prevent blood clots. When seated, keep your legs uncrossed. Tighten your leg muscles periodically or get up for short walks — with your health care provider's OK if you're on bed rest. Support stockings may help, too. Sometimes medication to prevent blood clots is needed.
- Stay cool. Too much heat or humidity may dilate your blood vessels and increase demand on your heart.
- Manage anxiety. Ask questions about your progress. Find out what to expect during labor and delivery. Knowing what's happening may help you feel more at ease.
- Know what's off-limits. Avoid smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs.
What signs or symptoms should I report to my health care provider?
Contact your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms that concern you, particularly:
- Difficulty breathing
- Fainting
- Increased swelling
- Rapid weight gain
- Heart palpitations, rapid heart rate or irregular pulse
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Unusual fatigue or weakness
What about labor and delivery?
Your health care provider may recommend delivering your baby at a medical center that specializes in high-risk pregnancies.
During labor, you may need monitoring with specialized equipment. For example, a catheter may be inserted into a vein or artery to provide detailed information about your heart function. An echocardiogram may give your health care provider additional information about your heart.
To ease stress on your circulation, your health care provider may recommend epidural anesthesia for pain relief. If you deliver vaginally, your health care provider may limit the amount of time you push. Sometimes it's best to deliver the baby with the help of forceps or a vacuum extractor. If you're at risk of endocarditis, you may receive antibiotic treatment just before and after delivery.
It's unusual to need a C-section because of a heart condition. If you develop an obstetrical problem that leads to a C-section, special precautions may be taken to monitor your heart's function during the delivery.
Will I be able to breast-feed my baby?
Breast-feeding is encouraged for most women who have heart conditions, even those who take medication. Discuss any treatment adjustments you'll need to make with your health care provider ahead of time. Sometimes an alternative medication is recommended. Rarely, breast-feeding may be limited to decrease demand on your heart.
Previous page(2 of 2)
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- Heart disorders in pregnancy. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec18/ch261/ch261i.html. Accessed April 22, 2009.
- Congenital cardiovascular defects. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4565. Accessed April 22, 2009.
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- Perloff JK. Pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease: General principles. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- DeCara JM. Management of heart failure in pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- Arafeh JM, et al. Cardiac disease in pregnancy. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly. 2006;29:32.
- Infective endocarditis (previously referred to as bacterial endocarditis). American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4436. Accessed May 12, 2009.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 18, 2009.
