What complications can arise during pregnancy with CHD?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 28-year-old female, and my partner and I are planning to start a family soon. However, I have a congenital heart condition, and I am concerned about the potential risks it may pose during pregnancy and for the health of our future child. Could you please explain the potential complications or challenges that may arise during pregnancy for someone with a pre-existing heart condition like mine? Are there specific types of heart defects that carry a higher risk for complications or genetic transmission to the baby?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I understand your concern.

Heart disease is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications, but it all depends on-

1. The kind of congenital heart defect you had.

2. If you are on anticoagulant.

3. Your echocardiographic findings.

The baseline risk of congenital heart defect (are structural abnormalities of the heart that are present at birth) in pregnancy is one percent, and if one parent has CHD (congenital heart disease) as in your case, the risk increases to three to five percent. But that can be detected through the antenatal scan (prenatal or ultrasound scan). There are a few defects associated with high maternal risk like-

If the ejection fraction (measurement that represents the percentage of blood pumped out of the ventricles with each heartbeat) is less than 40%.
Presence of pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart).
Mechanical heart valve.

Meet your cardiologist, so that your cardiac function is optimized prior to pregnancy. Could you share your details of heart disease, so that I can tell you exactly what you need to take care of?

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Regards.

Thank you.