Pregnancy is a natural process that does not have to be dangerous for the health of the woman or the fetus. But there are certain diseases that can complicate pregnancy and that we must take into account when planning it.
Some can be prevented, others are congenital, in any case we must have adequate health monitoring during pregnancy to detect any complications.
Heart disease, which can be of very different types (congenital, acquired, ischemic, hypertensive, valvular, cardiomyopathy ...), could pose a risk to health, although currently and under medical supervision most disorders are controlled and pregnancy leaves ahead.
Heart disease during pregnancy
The term heart disease can encompass any heart or rest of the cardiovascular system.
During pregnancy, the woman's blood circulation undergoes normal changes, the blood volume increases, so the heart has to work harder; irrigation is difficult, the pulse rate is increased ... Under normal conditions, these processes cause nothing more than discomfort (which we can relieve to a greater or lesser degree), but if the woman suffers from heart disease there may be a serious risk.
In developed countries, heart disease is becoming less common in women of childbearing age. About one percent of women who have severe heart disease before becoming pregnant die as a result of pregnancy, usually due to a heart failure.
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body, and although it is a chronic and prolonged condition, it can sometimes occur suddenly.
However, thanks to improved diagnostic procedures and treatments, most women with heart disease can give birth normally and newborns are healthy.
To prevent risks, a woman who is pregnant or is thinking about the possibility of being pregnant should tell her doctor if she has or has ever had a heart disease.
When heart disease is not diagnosed It is difficult to detect it during pregnancy. This is because the volume of blood increases and sometimes cause murmurs (sounds caused by the sudden and turbulent passage of blood through the heart) that can suggest a heart disorder, even when it really does not exist.
In addition, the veins dilate, the heart rate increases and the heart looks different on the x-rays. Therefore, if we suspect a disorder, consult the specialist and get the relevant tests before becoming pregnant.
Heart disease during childbirth
During the delivery, the cardiovascular system of women also has to do an overexertion. In the delivery phase, blood pressure and pulse increase even more during the final contractions at the moment when it starts to push.
The heart is likely to beat faster and have to work more than normal (contractions drain the blood from the uterus). Vaginal delivery is still recommended and due to the risk it may be decided to use an instrument such as obstetric suction cups or forceps to facilitate the baby's exit.
Monitoring and pain analgesia are recommended, although each case is particular, it is necessary to distinguish serious and mild risks and it is impossible to make a generalization regarding the recommendations for cases of mothers with heart disease.
During the immediate postpartum period, the risks of decompensation due to the distribution of blood flow are higher, so the mother's health must be continuously monitored.
After pregnancy, in the course of the first weeks, the woman's body will return to normal gradually and the circulatory system will recover, approximately, after the first four weeks.
As we say, there are many types of heart diseases that could complicate pregnancy and childbirth, since the cardiovascular system is very involved in these processes. Therefore it is necessary to know before becoming pregnant, as far as possible, how a specific heart disease can affect both the mother and the fetus. We will continue to address this issue in future articles.
