Many patients with congenital heart disease believe that they cannot get pregnant and are worried that their heart condition will affect future pregnancy and childbirth. In fact, this is a misconception. Doctors say that patients with heart disease can still be pregnant during pregnancy. With the assistance of the medical team, it is well controlled and the risks of pregnancy and childbirth are greatly reduced.

How exactly does pregnancy affect the heart? How to prepare before pregnancy? What are the risks of pregnancy for patients with congenital heart disease, what are the possible complications, and what should be paid attention to when taking medication? This article will answer your questions once and for all!

How pregnancy affects the heart

When you’re pregnant, your heart has to work harder because it has to pump 40% more blood to other organs. Blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow, and blood pressure gradually decreases. In order to avoid bleeding during childbirth, the body’s natural mechanism will make the blood more likely to clot, and the blood’s ability to coagulate will be enhanced to reduce the chance of massive bleeding during childbirth. The normal human heart will automatically adjust to adapt to these changes, but for patients with congenital heart disease, the stress on the heart is like running on a treadmill non-stop for nine months.

How to prepare before pregnancy?

If pregnant patients with heart disease want to become pregnant, they can plan as early as possible, fully discuss with medical experts and physicians, and have a professional team perform a pre-pregnancy assessment to determine whether you are suitable for pregnancy. The main assessment will look at your clinical condition and consider your ability to cope with daily activities. If you are able to work and carry out normal activities, the birth process should go smoothly, but if your daily activities are limited, experts must use different metrics to determine whether you are suitable for pregnancy and childbirth.

What are the risks of pregnancy for patients with congenital heart disease?

Most women with the following heart conditions can still have a successful pregnancy unless their doctor makes special considerations for the individual patient:

1. Arrhythmias
   
2. Heart murmur
   
3. Hypertension
   
4. Mitral valve prolapse

The following conditions require consideration of pregnancy risks, physician expert evaluation, and close monitoring:

1. Heart valve disease, undergoing artificial valve tissue replacement
   
2. Mitral valve stenosis
   
3. Cardiomyopathy: Dilated cardiomyopathy, Peripartum cardiomyopathy, Restrictive cardiomyopathy

Conditions that may not be suitable for pregnancy include:

1. Have a history of heart attack
   
2. Pulmonary hypertension caused by Eisenmenger syndrome
   
3. Marfan syndrome
   
4. Severe mitral stenosis or severe aortic stenosis with associated symptoms

How should I take the medicine? Are taking medications harmful?

Medications taken during pregnancy can have an impact on the fetus, and continuing to take them usually does more good than harm to you. Doctors, experts and pharmacists will prescribe the safest and most appropriate dosage prescription for you. You must take the medicine according to the doctor’s instructions, and be careful not to stop taking the medicine without permission or change the dosage on your own.

What can be done to avoid complications of congenital heart disease?

Pregnant women can take good care of themselves by following the following methods to prevent complications:

1. Periodic inspection
   
2. Take medicine as directed by your doctor
   
3. rest as much as possible
   
4. Weight control
   
5. Maintain physical and mental calm and avoid anxiety
   
6. Stay away from tobacco, alcohol and drugs

Prenatal evaluation is necessary, and only a very small number of cases will become high-risk groups that are not suitable for pregnancy. High-risk women should consult and discuss with cardiologists and obstetricians in the early stages of pregnancy planning, undergo pre-pregnancy risk assessment, and make pre-pregnancy preparations to improve pregnancy safety and healthy delivery.
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