How should I prepare for pregnancy?

Meet with your health care team before you try to get pregnant. Start by making an appointment with your heart doctor, called a cardiologist. Also make an appointment with the doctor who will handle your pregnancy. You'll likely be referred to a health care professional who takes care of people with very high-risk pregnancies. This doctor is called a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. You also might want to talk with other members of your health care team, such as your family doctor.

Your medical team will check how well you're managing your heart condition. They'll also consider treatment changes you might need before you become pregnant.

Certain medicines that treat heart conditions aren't used during pregnancy. Depending on your situation, your doctor might change your medicine or dosage before you become pregnant. Ask what risks are involved.

If you have a pregnancy that you didn't expect, see your cardiologist and a high-risk-pregnancy doctor as soon as possible.