Having cardiovascular disease, what should be noted during pregnancy?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. Doctor with over 13 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Pregnancy can cause changes to the heart and blood vessels for pregnant women, so women who already have heart disease during pregnancy need to pay special attention to ensure the health of both mother and fetus. In particular, in the hot summer weather, the disease is more severe, making pregnant women tired.

1. Effects of heart disease on pregnancy

People with heart disease during pregnancy may be deprived of oxygen and nutrients in the tissues. The severity depends on the time of impact, the condition of each person. Specifically:
Fetal growth retardation Low birth weight fetus Threat of miscarriage Miscarriage Threat of premature birth Preterm birth Stillbirth Birth defects.

2. Effects of pregnancy on heart disease

Changes in the body during pregnancy can also make heart disease more serious, easily causing complications in the second half of pregnancy such as:
Acute heart failure

Pulmonary embolism Acute pulmonary edema Cardiac arrhythmia Anemia leading to heart failure Thromboembolism.

3. Pregnant women with heart disease should pay attention to what?

3.1. Weight control Excessive weight gain can cause problems with blood pressure, heart disease, dyslipidemia, increased risk of stroke, etc. Therefore, pregnant women with heart disease need to control their weight. own, not to gain too much weight, gain weight too quickly in a short time.
3.2. Having a reasonable diet When pregnant, people often have the habit of consuming a lot of nutritious food to provide nutrients for the developing fetus. But for pregnant women with heart disease, it is necessary to apply a reasonable diet. Excess protein, sugar and fat will increase the risk of complications, threatening the health of pregnancy. Pregnant women with heart disease should eat a balance of foods, eat lots of vegetables and fruits, limit fried foods, and limit fatty foods.
In addition, pregnant women with heart disease should follow a low-salt diet (≤ 2g/day). Eating salty foods can cause high blood pressure, increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and heart attacks.
3.3. Avoid physical activity Pregnant women with heart disease should avoid physical activity so as not to make the heart work too hard. However, do not be lazy to exercise. Ideally, you should exercise gently to increase the amount of good cholesterol in the body as well as help the body be healthier. Walking is not only good for the heart but also very good for pregnant women. You should walk for about 30 minutes every day, depending on your fitness, especially in the last months of pregnancy.
3.4. Iron supplements Pregnant women need a huge amount of iron to meet the body's needs during pregnancy. If iron deficiency will lead to anemia, this not only affects the health of the mother and fetus but is also very dangerous for pregnant women with heart disease. Therefore, special attention should be paid to iron content during pregnancy. Regular blood tests to know the status of the body and timely iron supplementation.
3.5. Avoid stress

Pregnant women often feel tired, slow movement, too much work makes them feel tired. They are also prone to emotional changes. Those are the factors that greatly affect people with heart disease. This causes the nervous system to appear regulatory responses that cause the heart rate to increase rapidly, the person's shaking, sweating, mental instability...
3.6. To have a healthy pregnancy, pregnant women with heart disease need to have regular health check-ups, combining obstetrician and cardiology specialties. so that doctors can proactively assess your pregnancy as well as promptly detect risks to the health of mother and baby. Your obstetrician and cardiologist can also discuss medications to help you before and during pregnancy.
For patients with cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, regular antenatal check-ups are extremely necessary, helping to protect the health of both the mother and the development of the fetus. Currently, Cardiology Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital is a specialized cardiology clinic put into operation since March 2019 with leading equipment and technology in Vietnam, patients If you have a heart condition, you can completely trust the expertise of the doctor and the treatment protocol here. In addition, Vinmec International General Hospital also offers a maternity package that takes care of pregnant women and their babies from pregnancy to labor.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.