Heart disease can make being a mother risky for a woman. It is of great importance to be aware of these risks before becoming pregnant and to take the necessary precautions.
Pregnancy is not allowed in these people, as some heart problems put the health of mother and baby at risk during pregnancy.
Some changes in the heart are normal during pregnancy.
During the period from the 5th to the 8th week of pregnancy, the normal changes that should occur in the cardiovascular system begin. Heart rate increases slightly with pregnancy. As the load on the heart increases, blood pressure decreases by 10%. Due to hormonal changes, the vessel walls weaken. In the early postpartum period, some changes occur in the mother's circulatory system as the baby's pressure on the main artery is removed. In the early post-pregnancy period, it requires attention just like the pregnancy period. Mild shortness of breath, fatigue, non-severe palpitations, shortening of walking distance, non-serious swelling in the legs, shortness of breath when lying on the back can be considered as normal changes during pregnancy.
Preventive measures should be taken before pregnancy
People with known heart disease before becoming pregnant or who are planning an advanced pregnancy over the age of 35, who have a family history of serious heart disease and who have risk factors for heart diseases should definitely have a cardiological examination. should be done with the principle of teamwork. Pre-pregnancy planning and taking protective measures are essential.
Some heart problems are risky for pregnancy
Conceiving people with a certain group of heart diseases can be risky for the health of the mother and baby. For this reason, this information should be given to the person with psychological support and detailed dialogue, and pregnancy should be discouraged. Couples should also be informed about future prevention methods. Heart diseases that prevent pregnancy are congenital heart diseases accompanied by bruising, namely "cyanotic congenital heart diseases". These; advanced valve patients for whom surgical intervention is not possible, heart diseases with severely increased lung pressure, advanced heart failure and valve stenosis problems. It is inconvenient for patients with severe stenosis or insufficiency in their heart valves to become pregnant, whose daily effort capacity has decreased to such an extent that they have shortness of breath even at rest, and patients with severe heart failure.
Heart diseases that require special follow-up do not prevent pregnancy
People with a hole in their heart can become pregnant if their examination proves that they do not pose a vital burden to the heart and lungs. Patients with a large heart hole can be allowed to become pregnant by taking necessary precautions after surgery. Patients who have had heart valve replacement or heart valve repair as a heart surgery can become pregnant under a certain risk with a detailed pre-pregnancy control and follow-up. Patients with treatable rhythm problems do not normally have barriers to conception after ablation before pregnancy. A detailed examination and risk analysis are important in rhythm problems that require drug use during pregnancy. Patients with high blood pressure, that is, hypertension, can become pregnant with strict follow-up during pregnancy. There is no obstacle for the expectant mothers who have gestational hypertension to become pregnant if they are followed by using drugs that do not harm themselves and the baby during this period.