Women who have heart conditions should discuss potential risk factors with their doctor before planning a pregnancy

During pregnancy, changes in the heart and blood vessels increase the heart’s workload.

Blood volume increases, so the heart increases the amount of blood it pumps each minute. Heart rate also increases.

Blood pressure may decrease during pregnancy, which can cause light-headedness, even in healthy women.

Women with a heart condition need to take special precautions before and during pregnancy. Some heart conditions may increase a woman’s risk for complications.

Atrial (ASD) and ventricular septal defects (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are the most common congenital heart defects (those that are present at birth).

Patients with these defects have an opening in the septum (the muscular wall separating the right and left side of the heart). If the hole is large, blood from the left side of the heart can flow backward, ending up in the lungs again.

In general, most women with a congenital heart defect, especially those who have had corrective surgery, can safely become pregnant. But, for some women who were born with a heart defect and other complications, pregnancy is not recommended because it’s too dangerous.

Richard Krasuski, MD, Director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center at Cleveland Clinic, recently helped guide a young woman with a lifelong history of heart disease and an implanted, artificial heart valve through a high-risk pregnancy and successful delivery.

“Patients who have had artificial valves implanted require blood thinners to minimize the risk of blot clots and stroke. These medications are effective, but some increase the risk of birth defects, and all blood thinners raise the risk for excessive bleeding during delivery,” says Dr. Krasuski.

Women who have any kind of valve disease need to be evaluated by a cardiologist before planning a pregnancy. In some cases, surgery to correct the valve may be recommended before pregnancy.

You should be evaluated by a cardiologist (a heart specialist) before you start planning a pregnancy if you have:

Hypertension (high blood pressure) or high cholesterol

Prior diagnosis of any type of heart or blood vessel disease

Prior heart attack or stroke

Poor heart function with reduced pumping ability

Heart valve disease

With proper planning and care, most women are able to have a healthy baby and remain healthy themselves.