When a woman with congenital heart disease (CHD) gets pregnant, she has to worry about different things than most other women might worry about. For one, there is a higher risk of a miscarriage, and there is a higher risk of having a stillbirth. In addition, the pregnant woman with CHD must be monitored for a condition called preeclampsia, which can cause serious blood pressure problems, kidney problems, seizures, and brain swelling.
What Is Congenital Heart Disease?
Congenital heart disease is a type of birth defect that occurs before birth. It happens when something goes wrong with the way the heart develops during pregnancy or while the child is still in the womb. The most common types of congenital heart disease include Blue-baby syndrome, where the baby is blue due to a lack of oxygen and blood flow.
Heart defects such as a valve disorder, abnormal structure, or position of the heart. Heart murmurs, abnormal heart rhythms, coarctation of the aorta, or when a section of the aorta doesn’t open properly, etc. are also a kind of congenital heart disease.
Pregnancy with Congenital Heart Disease
According to a gynecologist in Indore, Dr. Sushmita Mukherjee, women with congenital heart disease need proper pre-conception or pre-pregnancy care under a high-risk pregnancy specialist. If a woman with a heart condition wants to conceive, it is very important for her to meet a specialist as early as possible before pregnancy. However, the chance of having a successful pregnancy with congenital heart disease is almost 90 percent. The most common congenital heart disease in women is mitral valve prolapse, said Dr. Mukherjee. In cases of this heart condition, it may be necessary to do a detailed assessment by a specialist.
Ensuring a Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery
Women with heart disease should be very aware of the risks to their health and the risk of a child being born with heart defects. They should do their best to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. There are several guidelines that the mother and her partner should follow during pregnancy and delivery. They need to avoid certain medicines and they should adhere to the personalised pregnancy plans as advised by their gynecologist in Indore. Indulging in healthy lifestyle practices during pregnancy is extremely important for women with heart disease.
