Pregnancy and Heart Health
When a woman gets pregnant, her body undergoes major changes as the process of developing a new life starts. This includes everything from an increased sense of smell to hormone changes to improved heart health. Although the majority of women of childbearing age have a healthy heart, there are a few cases where heart issues occur or a woman already has heart problems.
Young women with pre-existing heart problems who want to start a family are also worried about whether or not they would be able to have a safe pregnancy. Dr. Gaurav Ganeshwala, the best cardiologist in Pune, encourages his patients that planning a healthy pregnancy is feasible and safe if they consult their cardiologist and gynaecologist before, during, and after pregnancy to treat their heart condition.
Changes in the Heart During Pregnancy
Several changes to the heart and blood vessels occur during pregnancy, putting extra stress on the mother’s heart. The following changes are natural and help to ensure that the developing fetus receives enough oxygen and nutrients.
- An increase in blood volume in the body by 40 to 50 percent.
- Increase of 10 to 15 beats per minute of resting heart rate during pregnancy
- Decrease in blood pressure as a result of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to the uterus
Pregnancy in Women with a history of Heart Disease
If you have any of the following heart problems, your pregnancy could be at risk. Fortunately, consultation and supervision from the best cardiologist in Pune will help ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery in the majority of cases. The following conditions necessitate regular supervision and treatment by a cardiologist and an obstetrician:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) or high cholesterol
- hypotension (low blood pressure) or a low cholesterol level
- A congenital heart defect is a heart defect that occurs at birth.
- Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm or murmur)
- Aortic or mitral valve narrowing
- Aortic or mitral valve narrowing