Heart Conditions in Pregnancy

Most heart conditions are not serious and will not affect your pregnancy. However, a few conditions that affect the heart may cause problems for you and your baby.

Many women develop a heart murmur during pregnancy. Most heart murmurs during pregnancy are harmless. These normal heart murmurs usually go away a week or so after delivery. If your healthcare provider tells you that you have an unusual murmur, you may need an ultrasound test of your heart, called an echocardiogram. The test will be done to see if there is a problem that will affect your pregnancy.

An occasional irregular heartbeat is common in pregnancy, but sometimes it can be a sign of a problem with the heart. Tell your healthcare provider if you are having a fast or irregular heartbeat.

Some heart conditions may lead to serious problems during pregnancy. The conditions can be made worse because the heart has to pump more blood while you are pregnant. They can threaten your health or your baby's health. Some of these conditions are:

• a hole in your heart that you were born with
• a problem with a heart valve
• a history of heart surgery
• heart problems during a previous pregnancy
• rheumatic fever or
• a heart attack

If you have a heart problem, discuss it with your healthcare provider before you become pregnant. Knowing all of the possible risks related to your heart and pregnancy can help you make informed decisions about your medical care.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File card5324.htm Release 13/2010