Pregnancy
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Most women with heart disease are able to undergo a normal pregnancy and delivery. The exceptions are those with severe cyanosis when there is usually insufficient oxygen in the blood supply to the placenta to sustain the baby. Most of these pregnancies spontaneously abort. Women with pulmonary hypertension (high lung artery pressure) are not usually advised to get pregnant as there is a serious danger to their life. |
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As with any medical problem it is essential that medical advise is taken - preferably before the event so that the pregnancy can be monitored and if treatment is necessary it can be undertaken early. If a women herself has a heart problem then there is an increased risk that her child will have a problem too. The risk is around 6%. If a man has a heart problem then the risk is 2%. If the couple have had a previously affected child then the risk is about 2%. The risks quoted above are averages - the actual risk varies considerably between the various heart conditions. There is also some evidence that taking vitamins for 3 months prior to and the first 3 months of the pregnancy can reduce the chance of heart disease occurring in the baby. |
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This page was last edited 14/2/2004 |
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