During pregnancy, the heart and blood arteries undergo significant changes.
Cardiovascular system alterations occur throughout pregnancy. A woman’s body is placed under additional strain and her heart has to work harder as a result of these changes. During pregnancy, the following changes are to be expected. Make sure your kid gets enough oxygen and nutrition by using them
- Blood volume increases. The volume of blood in the body grows by 40 to 50 percent during the first trimester and stays high throughout the pregnancy.
- Cardiac output increases. Each minute, the heart pumps out a certain quantity of blood. Pregnant women’s blood volume rises by 30 to 40 percent, resulting in a 30 to 40 percent increase in output.
- Heart rate rises. When pregnant, the heart rate is expected to rise between 10 and 15 beats per minute.
- Blood pressure is lowered as a result. Pregnancy may lower blood pressure by 10 mmHg. Hormonal changes and increased blood flow to the uterus may be to blame for this decrease. In most cases, there are no symptoms and no therapy is necessary.. During your prenatal sessions, your healthcare practitioner will monitor your blood pressure and let you know if any changes are concerning.
Excessive tiredness, shortness of breath, and dizziness are all symptoms of these modifications. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor.
Before and during pregnancy, if you have a cardiac issue, you may need to take additional measures. A woman’s risk of problems may rise if she has a cardiac issue. As a result, some women are unaware of their heart or blood vessel issues until they get pregnant. When it comes to the baby’s survival, the mother’s health and well-being are of the utmost importance.
What are the risks?
- On the basis of one’s cardiac condition, one might expect a range of possible outcomes. For instance
- Problems with the heartbeat. When pregnant, it is usual for the heartbeat to be somewhat out of wack. No need to worry about them. Pregnant women may be prescribed medicine for an arrhythmia, just as they would if they weren’t.
- Heart valve malfunctions. A scarred or malformed heart valve or an artificial heart valve might raise the risk of problems during pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, you may have difficulty coping with the increased blood flow because of faulty valves.
- Endocarditis, a potentially life-threatening infection of the heart’s walls and valves, may be exacerbated by the use of artificial or defective valves. Additionally, mechanical prosthetic heart valves offer substantial dangers during pregnancy because of the necessity to alter the usage of blood thinners, as well as the possibility for life-threatening clotting (thrombosis) of heart valves. Pregnant women who use blood thinners may potentially put their unborn child at danger.
- A condition known as congestive heart disease. It is possible that congestive heart failure may worsen as blood volume rises.
- Deficiency in the cardiac muscle If you were born with a heart issue, your kid is more likely to have a heart defect as well. For women who are pregnant or who give birth prematurely, cardiac issues might arise.
