Pregnancy & Congenital Heart Clinic

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Pregnancy & Congenital Heart Clinic

Pregnancy & Congenital Heart Clinic

Pregnancy creates a unique strain on a woman’s body and on the heart. Women born with heart problems, known as congenital heart defects, need specialized medical care throughout pregnancy and delivery. This helps avoid complications and protects the health of both mother and baby.

The risk of complications can be high in pregnant women with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). These problems can include heart failure, stroke, abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), endocarditis, and myocardial infarction. Even death is possible in extreme cases.

Thanks to advances in medical care, people with ACHD are living longer and healthier lives. With proper medical care, a growing number of women with ACHD experience pregnancies and deliveries that are free of cardiac problems. Still, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend that all women with ACHD undergo a thorough evaluation by specialists and receive a complete care plan.

Why choose UAB Medicine

UAB Medicine’s Pregnancy & Congenital Heart Clinic combines the expertise of the UAB Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine with the advanced cardiac care provided by our Alabama Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. This collaboration helps ensure that mother and baby receive complete prenatal and high-risk pregnancy care, along with world-class ACHD and cardiac services.

This multispecialty clinic is staffed by physicians, nurses, and specialists, including pediatric and adult cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, obstetrical and cardiovascular anesthesiologists, and other professionals. Our specialists have extensive experience treating a wide variety of ACHD conditions, including:

Atrial septal defects (ASD)
Ventricular septal defects (VSD)
Tetralogy of Fallot
Transposition of the great arteries
Aortic stenosis
Ebstein’s anomaly

UAB Medicine is the only hospital in Alabama with the full range of expertise to manage the care for pregnant women with ACHD. The Pregnancy & Congenital Heart Clinic is located at the UAB Women & Infants Center, and the staff works closely with the patient’s primary obstetrician.

The clinic recommends evaluations for all women with ACHD prior to conceiving a child, but women who are already pregnant (and their babies) can still benefit greatly from its services. Benefits include:

Increased patient comfort, as women know that their care is being carefully considered and well-managed by a wide range of specialists
Education about the patient’s particular ACHD condition, provided in the same location where she receives care and will deliver her baby
The convenience of a “medical home“ – a single clinic where all aspects of care can be addressed