It’s important for everyone to know that cardiovascular disease is not only very serious, but also a leading cause of pregnancy complications. Focusing on awareness of congenital heart defects with prospective and expecting parents.

You should know that:

• Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the U.S. and can contribute to health problems later in life.

• Heart conditions and stroke are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, causing more than 1 in 3 deaths.

• Management and early intervention of medical conditions before and during pregnancy can reduce maternal health issues and lead to better outcomes for mom and baby.

• Awareness of signs and symptoms of possible complications after delivery could lead to a reduction in maternal death.

• About 8 in 100 women (8%) have some kind of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

• Managing your blood pressure can help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. High blood pressure puts extra stress on the heart and kidneys and can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, or stroke.

• Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition that usually happens after the 20th week of pregnancy or up to six weeks after giving birth (called postpartum preeclampsia).

• Critical congenital heart defects (also called critical CHDs or critical congenital heart disease) are the most serious congenital heart defects. Babies with critical CHDs need surgery or other treatment within the first year of life. Without treatment, critical CHDs can cause serious health problems and death.

• Some congenital heart defects may be diagnosed during pregnancy, however some are detected at birth during newborn screenings and others are not detected until later in life.

What you can do

Know the warning signs and talk to your provider about your risk for cardiovascular disease and other adverse outcomes.