Pregnancy and Adult Congenital Heart Disease:

There are most of the women with congenital heart disease (CHD) can have a successful and safe pregnancy. However pregnancy carries some risk for women who have heart disease, there are increased risks to both the mother and the baby in the woman with CHD. In CHDs, the risk is significant enough that pregnancy is not recommended. In this blog, we are giving you more detailed information about Pregnancy and adult congenital heart disease and how you can easily manage it. Want to know more in-depth about this then read the entire blog.

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Is It Safe to Get Pregnant with Conventional Heart Disease?

Usually, patients with CHD should be evaluated prior to pregnancy to assess their risks and discuss anticipated issues during pregnancy. The testing may include an ECG (electrocardiogram) and echocardiogram. Other tests like a cardiac MRI would be considered based on a patient’s diagnosis and overall status. A review of all medication to check for adverse fetal effects and a plan to manage anticoagulation medication, if required, are also important.

If the patient is already pregnant or planning to become pregnant, we develop a comprehensive, individualized plan for delivery and postpartum monitoring. A multidisciplinary team consisting of high-risk obstetricians, obstetric anesthesiologists and cardiologists work closely to identify important pregnancy-related issues for each patient.

What are the Risks to the Newborn?

Pregnancy with CHD can cause birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.  Good care is very important for your own health is the best way to ensure the well being of your baby. It’s important to:

• Follow the doctor’s orders and keep all of your prenatal appointments

• Get sufficient rest

• Eat properly and monitor your weight

• Take the prescribed medications

• Keep in mind to avoid alcohol, tobacco products, and illegal drugs

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When is Pregnancy Considered too Dangerous for a Woman with CHD?

Pregnancy is considered prohibitively high risk in the presence of:

• Severe pulmonary hypertension

• Severely decreased heart function

• Significant enlargement of the aorta, especially in women with Marfan’s syndrome or other genetic syndromes.

• Severe aortic stenosis, mitral valve stenosis or other valve issues

Is the Child be at Risk for a Heart Defect or Condition?

Women with congenital heart disease have a higher risk of having a child with a congenital heart defect as compared with women who don’t have this. The risk is different and is based on a woman’s congenital heart defect but in general, is relatively low. Genetic counseling may be recommended to discuss these risks in detail. The doctor typically performs a fetal echocardiogram at 18 to 20 weeks to evaluate the baby’s heart.

Conclusion

As we have discussed in the above blog Pregnancy and Adult Congenital Heart Disease. The best way to manage this disease is to consult a good doctor when you are planning to get pregnant because it can affect your health as well as your baby’s health.

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