Cardiac (Heart) Conditions in Pregnancy

Learn more about pregnancy care for patients with heart disease.

Overview

Pregnancy makes our hearts work harder and puts additional strain on the cardiovascular system. 

Heart conditions may be present from birth, develop in your reproductive years or begin in pregnancy or postpartum. Pregnancy may impact some of these conditions more than others.

If you a heart condition, it is important to have a specialized team that works together to care for you during pregnancy.

Our maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists are high-risk obstetricians who support patients with health conditions during their pregnancy.

Some cardiac conditions we treat include:

Congenital heart disease with repair
Congenital heart disease without repair
Heart valve disease (valvulopathy)
Mechanical or prosthetic valves
Rhythm disorders (arrythmias)
Heart failure (past or present)
Previous heart attack or dissection
Pulmonary hypertension
And many others

If have a heart condition and are not yet pregnant, we encourage you to talk to your family physician or cardiologist before planning a pregnancy.

We also see patients who are not yet pregnant. We can recommend testing, monitoring and medication to support your future pregnancy.

Our care

Learn more about the specialized care provided at Mount Sinai Hospital for Medical Disorders of Pregnancy.

This content is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. It does not replace the need for consultation with a health-care professional. Please speak with your health-care professional for questions about your health.

Your pregnancy care

It is important to us that you actively participate in decision-making about your care. Our MFM specialists will help you understand your treatment choices so that you can make the best possible decisions for you and your baby.

When appropriate, we offer shared care so some of your prenatal appointments can be closer to your home. We also offer a full transfer of care to our program for pregnancy care and birth.

Our maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialists are high-risk obstetricians (OBs) who provide pregnancy care for patients with heart disease and other health conditions.

Our MFM specialists work closely with cardiologists experienced in managing heart disease during pregnancy.

You will have prenatal appointments at the Medical Disorders of Pregnancy Clinic and appointments with a cardiologist at the Heart Disease in Pregnancy Clinic. 

Treatment

Your MFM specialist will work with you to design a care plan that is specific to your needs.

Pregnancy care will focus on managing your cardiac condition while closely monitoring both your health and the health of your baby.

Your care may include any of the following:

Adjusting your medication so it is both safe and effective during pregnancy
Monitoring your heart function with blood work or ultrasound (echocardiogram)
Monitoring and managing your blood pressure
Monitoring your baby’s well-being with growth ultrasounds
Modifying your activities as needed

Labour and delivery

We continue to provide care during labour, birth and for six weeks postpartum.

Labour and delivery care may include some of the following:

Planning the type and timing of your delivery based on your specific needs
Scheduling an induction of labour or Caesarean section as needed
Meeting with our Obstetrical Anesthesia team
Monitoring your cardiac health throughout labour, such as blood pressure monitoring and telemetry
Monitoring of your baby’s well-being during labour

There are a lot of changes that occur to your blood volume and cardiac system after delivery. We will plan for your postpartum care to ensure appropriate monitoring and follow-up.