7 Ways to Prevent Congenital Heart Disease that Pregnant Women Need to Know

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a heart defect that is present at birth.

It results from early developmental problems in the structure of the heart.

The problem can affect:

The heart wall

Heart valves

Blood vessels.

Congenital heart disease is a disease that should not be underestimated as it can lead to dangerous complications.

Launching the Mayo Clinic, various complications of congenital heart disease that may develop include:

Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Arrhythmia occurs when the electrical signals that coordinate your heartbeat are not functioning properly.

Your heart may beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.

In some people, severe arrhythmia can lead to stroke or sudden cardiac death if left untreated.

Heart infection (endocarditis)

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium). This condition generally occurs when bacteria or other germs enter your bloodstream and move to your heart.

If left untreated, endocarditis can damage or destroy your heart valves or trigger a stroke.

If you are at high risk of developing endocarditis, it is recommended that you take antibiotics an hour before your dental cleaning.

Regular dental check-ups are important.

Healthy gums and teeth can reduce the risk of bacteria entering the bloodstream.

Stroke

Congenital heart defects can allow a blood clot to pass through your heart and travel to your brain, where it can reduce or block blood supply.

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs.

Some congenital heart defects send more blood to the lungs, causing the pressure to rise. This eventually causes your heart muscle to weaken and sometimes fail.

Heart failure

Heart failure (congestive heart failure) means your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.

Some types of congenital heart disease can lead to heart failure.

Due to the various medical problems that can be caused further down the line, congenital heart disease is best anticipated.

How to prevent congenital heart disease

According to the NHS, because so little is known about the causes of congenital heart disease, there is no guaranteed way to avoid having a baby with the condition.

However, if you are pregnant, the following advice may help reduce the risk of developing congenital heart disease in your baby:

1. Make sure to get vaccinated against rubella and flu (Influenza) 2.

Rubella disease is usually not a serious infection for adults or children, but it can severely affect an unborn baby if the mother develops the infection during the first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Rubella infection can cause several birth defects, including congenital heart disease.

Therefore, all women of childbearing age should be vaccinated against rubella.

The vaccine is now given as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule.

If you are unsure whether you have been vaccinated against rubella, do not hesitate to seek a doctor’s advice.

It is also important for fertile women to access the influenza vaccine.

The reasons are unclear, but women who get the flu during the first trimester (3 months) of pregnancy are reported to be at greater risk of giving birth to a baby with congenital heart disease than those who do not.

2. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking medication

If a pregnant woman drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy, this can have a toxic effect on foetal tissue.

This condition is known as foetal alcohol syndrome.

Children with foetal alcohol syndrome often develop congenital heart disease, most commonly ventricular or atrial septal defects.

Therefore, pregnant women are advised not to drink alcohol.

Pregnant women should also be wary of taking certain medications.

There are some medications that are associated with an increased risk of babies being born with congenital heart disease. These include:

Certain anti-seizure medications, such as benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam)

Certain acne medications, such as isotretinoin and topical retinoids

Ibuprofen, where women who take the painkiller ibuprofen while they are 30 weeks or more pregnant have an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with heart problems

Paracetamol is a safer alternative to ibuprofen during pregnancy, although ideally you should avoid taking any medication while you are pregnant, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure which medications to avoid during pregnancy.

3. Take folic acid supplements

Pregnant women are recommended to take 400 micrograms of folic acid supplements a day during the first trimester (first 12 weeks) of pregnancy.

This is good for reducing the risk of giving birth to a child with congenital heart disease, as well as several other types of birth defects.

4. Avoid contact with people known to have the infection

Pregnancy makes women vulnerable to contracting various diseases and infections.

Some infections that occur during pregnancy can be fatal to the mother’s health.

In fact, the foetus in the womb can also experience various health complications due to infections experienced by the mother.

This makes pregnant women need to be extra careful about their own health and the health of their foetus, including avoiding infections that can trigger congenital heart disease.

5. If you have diabetes, make sure it is controlled

Women with diabetes have a higher risk of giving birth to a baby with congenital heart disease than women who do not have diabetes.

This increased risk only applies to type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It does not apply to gestational diabetes, which can develop during pregnancy and usually disappears once the baby is born.

The increased risk is thought to be caused by high levels of the hormone insulin in the blood, which can interfere with normal foetal development (the early stages of a baby’s development in the womb).

6. Avoid exposure to organic solvents

Women exposed to some organic solvents are more likely to give birth to babies with congenital heart disease than the general population.

Organic solvents are chemicals found in various products and substances, such as paint thinner, dry cleaning, nail polish, and glue.

7. Do genetic screening

If you have a family history of congenital heart defects, ask your doctor about genetic screening.

This is because certain genes can contribute to abnormal heart development.