Heart Valve Disease and PregnancyTopic OverviewWomen who have a heart valve disease and want to become pregnant have some special considerations. A valve disease may increase the risk to the mother and the developing baby (fetus). Treatment of a valve disease might have to change during a pregnancy. How much a heart valve disease increases risks during pregnancy depends on the type of valve disease and how bad it is. If you have a heart valve disease and are considering pregnancy, talk with your doctors.
Heart valve diseasesHeart valve problems that may increase the risk of problems during pregnancy include:
Artificial valves and blood thinnersYou already have a replaced valve, and you take warfarin. Talk with your doctor if you plan on getting pregnant. You likely will not take warfarin if you are trying to get pregnant, because it can cause miscarriage or birth defects. You and your doctor will decide what blood thinner you will take while you are trying to get pregnant. You might take heparin during your pregnancy. You are thinking about having a heart valve replaced before you get pregnant. You will have a choice of the type of heart valve you will get. The heart valve type you choose may depend on whether you plan to get pregnant in the future.
Treatment for heart valve disease during pregnancyTreatments for a valve problem during pregnancy depend on the type of valve problem and how bad it is. A procedure that widens a heart valve might be done during pregnancy if the woman develops symptoms. This procedure, called a balloon valvuloplasty or valvotomy, is done for diseases that cause a heart valve to narrow (aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve stenosis). After the woman delivers, she may then have the valve repaired or replaced. Related InformationReferences
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ByHealthwise Staff Current as ofFebruary 23, 2018
Current as of: February 23, 2018 |
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