How can I keep my heart healthy during pregnancy?

There are many types of congenital heart defects. Some heart defects are not evident until the baby is born, but others may be detected during pregnancy with an ultrasound.

About 75% of babies born with a critical CHD are expected to survive to one year of age. About 69% of babies born with critical CHDs are expected to survive to 18 years of age. Survival and medical care for babies with critical CHDs are improving.

Echocardiography is a type of ultrasound scan, where high-frequency sound waves are used to create an image of the heart. However, it's not always possible to detect heart defects, particularly mild ones, using foetal echocardiography.

Two different methods may be used. CTG measures the baby's heart rate together with the mother's uterine contractions. An ECG measures the heart's electrical activity and the pattern of the heart beats. This involves an electrode being passed through the woman's cervix and attached to the baby's head.Dec 21, 2015

It's possible to hear the heartbeat at home using a stethoscope. Unfortunately, you can't hear it as early as you can with an ultrasound or fetal Doppler. With a stethoscope, a baby's heartbeat is often detectable between the 18th and 20th week. Stethoscopes are designed to amplify small sounds.Apr 3, 2020

A very fast heart rate may be caused by abnormal firing of the nerves that are responsible for the heartbeat. If the heart beats too fast, contractions are shallow and not enough blood is pumped with each heartbeat. As a result, the fetus can go into heart failure.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple test that can be used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity. Sensors attached to the skin are used to detect the electrical signals produced by your heart each time it beats.

Many women with the following heart conditions can have a healthy pregnancy, even if doctors have advised them otherwise. Heart Murmur: A heart murmur is an extra sound heard during a heartbeat, and it's very common. (In fact, some women develop one during pregnancy because of the increase in blood volume, Dr.Feb 15, 2012

Cardiomyopathy is generally the commonest cause of mortality developing during or after pregnancy.Aug 14, 2015

Nearly 1 in 100 babies (about 1 percent or 40,000 babies) is born with a heart defect in the United States each year. About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect (about 25 percent) has a critical CHD. Some heart defects don't need treatment or can be treated easily.

In pregnancy, heart rate (HR) increases by 25%; thus sinus tachycardia, particularly in the third trimester, is not uncommon. Ectopic beats and non‐sustained arrhythmia are encountered in more than 50% of pregnant women investigated for palpitations while sustained tachycardias are less common at around 2–3/1000.

A heart muscle disease called peripartum cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in expectant mothers, accounting for 23% of deaths late in pregnancy, according to ACOG.May 6, 2019

How to Maximize Heart Health During Pregnancy

1. Be your own health advocate.
2. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet with more fruits and vegetables.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Get enough sleep.
5. Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
6. Don't smoke or vape.
7. Don't stress the small stuff.
8. Consider practicing mindfulness.

The average fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute. It can vary by 5 to 25 beats per minute. The fetal heart rate may change as your baby responds to conditions in your uterus. An abnormal fetal heart rate may mean that your baby is not getting enough oxygen or that there are other problems.

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects. A baby's heart starts to develop at conception, but is completely formed by 8 weeks into the pregnancy. Congenital heart defects happen during this important first 8 weeks of the baby's development.