Pregnancy And Your Heart: Understanding The Risks And Staying Healthy

Pregnancy is a time of joy and change, but it is also a time when your heart works harder than ever. For many women, that extra strain goes unnoticed. For others, it can reveal an underlying heart condition or make an existing one more serious. At Franciscan Health, we want women and families to understand these risks. We offer care and support every step of the way.

Key Takeaways: Pregnancy And Heart Health

• Heart disease is the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, and risks are rising as more women enter pregnancy with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.
• Pregnancy puts significant strain on the cardiovascular system, which can worsen existing heart conditions or reveal previously undiagnosed issues that may be mistaken for normal pregnancy symptoms.
• Franciscan Health’s Cardio-Obstetrics Program provides specialized, multidisciplinary care — from preconception planning through postpartum support — to help women with heart conditions safely navigate pregnancy.
• Early evaluation, close monitoring and long-term follow-up are essential because conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension can significantly increase a woman’s risk of future heart disease.

Why Heart Health Matters During Pregnancy

Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy affects up to 4 percent of all pregnancies. Those numbers are rising as more women delay starting families and more women with congenital heart disease reach childbearing age. Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death among pregnant women in the United States. Indiana has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Midwest.

Heart disease, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, is being seen  in increasing numbers among young women.

Pregnancy causes big changes to the cardiovascular system, including more blood volume, hormonal shifts and changes in blood pressure. These changes can worsen existing heart conditions or uncover previously undiagnosed problems. Symptoms can also overlap with typical pregnancy issues. This makes them easy to miss without specialized care.

Care For Pregnant Women With Existing Heart Conditions

Some women enter pregnancy knowing they have a heart condition. Other women are diagnosed during preconception testing or even while pregnant. At Franciscan Health, our Cardio-Obstetrics Programoffers a full spectrum of care for women who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or have recently delivered. This includes:

• Preconception counseling and risk assessment
• Labor and delivery planning with heart health in mind
• Postpartum care and long-term prevention
• Education and support for conditions like cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, valvular disease and congenital heart disease

“The goal of our multidisciplinary team approach is to reduce risks during pregnancy and help women deliver safely,” said Stephen Cook, MD, cardiovascular and congenital heart disease specialist at Franciscan Health Indiana Heart Physicians in Indianapolis. “We work closely with maternal-fetal medicine, anesthesia, nursing and neonatology to coordinate care.”

Women with heart conditions are often grouped by risk level using international guidelines. Those at the lowest risk may only need basic monitoring. Others face higher risks of complications such as heart failure, stroke or dangerous heart rhythms. In the highest risk group, pregnancy may be strongly discouraged because of the danger to both mother and baby.

Why Specialized Heart Care Makes A Difference During Pregnancy

“Many providers who do not see pregnant patients regularly may fail to identify high-risk women or only recognize problems later in pregnancy,” explained Islam Bolad, MD, cardiologist at Franciscan Physician Network Cardiology Lafayette. “In south central Indiana, there are very few cardio-obstetrics programs like ours.”

At Franciscan Health, Caitlin Luebcke, DNP, helps ensure the highest-risk patients receive a comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation within six weeks. Ongoing follow-up is a key part of preventing long-term complications. Research shows that preeclampsia, for example, doubles a woman’s risk of heart problems later in life. This condition increases her risk of developing high blood pressure fourfold.

Hypertension, gestational diabetes and other pregnancy-related conditions may not necessarily end after delivery. That’s why Franciscan Health is building prevention programs, including advanced imaging and tailored treatment plans. Our programs help women manage their risk throughout their journey.

Taking Steps Before, During And After Pregnancy

If you think you want to start a family and have a heart condition, talk with your doctor before you become pregnant. Early planning and specialized care can make all the difference for both mother and baby.

If you are pregnant, be aware of warning signs. Don’t ignore unusual shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations or swelling that seems more than typical.

Learn more about related risks in our blog on high blood pressure in pregnancy. You can also explore women’s health services and heart care at Franciscan Health to see how we support mothers at every stage.