Pregnancy in Women with Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Almost all women with CHD can safely carry pregnancies to term and deliver vaginally. Counseling regarding pregnancy risks should begin at an early age and continue through the childbearing years. Pregnant women with CHD should be managed in a multidisciplinary manner, with input from cardiology, maternal-fetal medicine, and anesthesiology. A written plan of care should be created and documented in the medical record such that it is visible to all on-call providers. Caregivers should be aware that maternal risks do not end with the delivery of the child and that continued vigilance is required in the postpartum period. Patients should have individualized counseling and care based on the anatomic diagnosis as well as the physiologic status.