Labor and Delivery with Heart Disease
The Heart Disease and Pregnancy Program uses a multidisciplinary plan formulated by Maternal-Fetal Medicine
(high-risk Obstetrics), Cardiology, and Anesthesia to anticipate
problems that may occur during delivery. The actual mode of delivery,
vaginal or cesarean section is usually determined by obstetric
indications and not the underlying cardiac disease.
In general, women with cardiac disease who have done well during the pregnancy usually only require general management with clinical observation during labor and delivery. These women may receive pain control and require monitoring of their blood pressure. Women who have symptoms during pregnancy and have high risk factors such as high lung pressures or cardiac muscle disease often require oxygen and invasive hemodynamic monitoring during labor and delivery.
Women with cardiac disease may be asked to labor while lying on their left side. In this position, the uterus is not resting on the inferior vena cava (large blood vessel that returns blood to the heart) which may be compressed by an enlarged uterus decreasing blood flow back to the heart. With decrease blood flow to the heart, the heart rate often increases. A woman may require antibiotics during labor and delivery to prevent cardiac infection. She may require that the pushing stage be shortened depending upon the nature of her cardiac disease. Other changes in the labor and delivery plan will be dictated by the underlying cardiac disease.
In general, women with cardiac disease who have done well during the pregnancy usually only require general management with clinical observation during labor and delivery. These women may receive pain control and require monitoring of their blood pressure. Women who have symptoms during pregnancy and have high risk factors such as high lung pressures or cardiac muscle disease often require oxygen and invasive hemodynamic monitoring during labor and delivery.
Women with cardiac disease may be asked to labor while lying on their left side. In this position, the uterus is not resting on the inferior vena cava (large blood vessel that returns blood to the heart) which may be compressed by an enlarged uterus decreasing blood flow back to the heart. With decrease blood flow to the heart, the heart rate often increases. A woman may require antibiotics during labor and delivery to prevent cardiac infection. She may require that the pushing stage be shortened depending upon the nature of her cardiac disease. Other changes in the labor and delivery plan will be dictated by the underlying cardiac disease.
Contact
Heart Disease and Pregnancy Program
(866) 662-8467 (toll free)
Program Guide
Heart Disease and Pregnancy Program
Preconception Evaluation
Congenital Heart Disease and Pregnancy
Cardiac Diseases and Pregnancy
Cardiac Signs and Symptoms During Pregnancy
Medical Management of Heart Disease and Pregnancy
Diagnostic Testing Durning Pregnancy
Labor and Delivery with Heart Disease
Review Date: 08/06
