Common Heart Conditions and Pregnancy
Pregnancy adds extra strain on a woman’s heart and blood vessels, which could lead to cardiovascular as well as other health problems.
Pregnancy's metabolic demands — “nature’s stress test” — can expose heart issues that weren't known before. This happens in part because the body is carrying more weight. But changing hormones also play a role.
Ailments that arise during pregnancy may have lasting effects on women’s long-term health.
Serious Heart Conditions
These can arise in and around pregnancy.
Pregnancy Can Elevate the Risk of HBP in Women
Some women who have never had high blood pressure develop it while they are pregnant.
Preeclampsia is usually characterized by the onset of high blood pressure that is lasting and can lead to various complications.
Learn how it affects 1 in 25 pregnancies in the U.S and what you can do.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who did not have diabetes before they were pregnant.
Researchers aren’t sure what causes gestational diabetes, though excess weight before pregnancy may play a role.
Half of all women who had gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Stroke and Pregnancy
When blood supply to part of the brain is blocked, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, a stroke may occur.
Pregnancy elevates a woman’s stroke risk.
Many women may overlook stroke symptoms as routine issues related to pregnancy.
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM)
PPCM is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth.
Congenital Heart Defects
Women born with heart defects that have been repaired can have a safe, low-risk pregnancy.
Share Your Experience with Us
Help us better understand the impact pregnancy has on a woman’s health – and heart – by taking the newest survey from Research Goes Red. Whether you are pregnant, considering becoming pregnant or have already had children, we would like to hear from you. Join Research Goes Red today and take the new Reproductive Health Survey.
The Support Network: We're Here for You
Day or night, we're here to moms-to-be, new moms or veteran moms dealing with a heart condition or stroke. We’ve created the Support Network Maternal Health Forum for you: ask questions, get support and share your journey with women who've been there.
