Being Pregnant With Heart Disease Advice

If you are thinking about getting pregnant and have a heart condition, you should work closely with your doctor to get a better idea of the risks to allow them to monitor your medications and your body as your baby grows, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Here are some of the steps their doctors recommend for a healthy pregnancy:

-Have a detailed discussion with your doctors before you get pregnant. You want your obstetrician to work with your cardiologist during the pregnancy.

-Know the effects pregnancy has on your heart, including increasing blood volume by 40-percent, boosting cardiac output by as much as 50 percent, thickening your blood, which may raise the risk of blood clots, boosting heart rate between 10 and 20 beats per minute and a decrease in blood pressure.

-In order to have a better idea of how your body will handle the stress of pregnancy, get your heart checked out before you conceive. By using echocardiograms, cardiac MRIs, and stress tests, your doctors will be able to manage your medications.

For more information, please go to the Cleveland Clinic’s website.