Heart conditions that we treat
Heart conditions that we treatIf you have an existing heart condition or certain risk factors, you will require specialized care. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we work together to manage all types of conditions, including:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD). Heart issues you were born with, even if they were treated when you were a child.
- Arrhythmias. Problems with your heart's rhythm, like a heart that beats too fast, too slow, or skips beats.
- Cardiomyopathy or heart failure (HF). Weakness of the heart muscle, making it harder to pump blood efficiently.
- Heart valve problems. Issues like a narrowed or leaky heart valve.
- High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure that existed before pregnancy or developed during it.
- History of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. These past complications put you at a higher risk for future heart issues.
Before you’re pregnant: planning a safe pregnancy
Planning a safe pregnancyIf you have a heart condition and are thinking about getting pregnant, taking the time to plan with a cardio-obstetrics care team can help keep your pregnancy smooth and safe.
To prepare for a safe pregnancy, you can:
- Schedule a pre‑pregnancy consultation. Talk with both a cardiologist and an MFM specialist. This helps your care team understand your heart history and assess whether pregnancy is safe for you.
- Check your medications. Some heart or blood pressure medications may not be safe during pregnancy. Your doctors can help adjust your medications or find safer alternatives before conception.
- Undergo heart testing if needed. Tests like echocardiograms (heart ultrasound) or rhythm monitoring may be done to check how well your heart will tolerate pregnancy changes.
- Optimize your overall health. Maintain a balanced diet, manage weight, control blood pressure and other risk factors; stay active, and avoid smoking or alcohol.
- Understand your specific risks. Some heart conditions, like severe valve disease, pulmonary hypertension, or certain cardiomyopathies, may carry higher risks in pregnancy. It’s important to know what risks apply to you.
- Plan delivery and postpartum care. If you become pregnant, having a detailed delivery plan—including where to deliver, monitoring needs, and postpartum heart follow-up—can help keep you and your baby safe.
- Choose a coordinated, multidisciplinary team. Choose a center that brings together cardiologists, MFM doctors, OBs, anesthesiologists, and specialized nurses so your heart, pregnancy, and delivery are all managed together.
Get care
Get careHeart care during pregnancy: How our cardio-obstetrics team supports you
When you have a heart condition and are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, a cardio-obstetrics team gives you coordinated, expert-level care that will cover your heart health and your pregnancy throughout the entire process. At NewYork-Presbyterian, here’s what our specialized cardio-obstetrics care delivers:
- A team of specialists. Your care will be managed by experts, including cardiologists—with some specializing in congenital heart disease, arrhythmias, or heart failure—MFM doctors, specialized anesthesiologists, and highly trained nurses.
- Coordinated care before, during, and after pregnancy. Whether you are thinking about conceiving, are expecting, or are in the postpartum period, our team supports you at every stage. This includes pre-pregnancy risk assessment, close monitoring, planning a safe delivery, and essential follow-up care.
- A personalized plan tailored to your heart condition. Because conditions like valve disease, arrhythmias, congenital defects, or cardiomyopathy vary widely, we review your individual health status to design a care plan tailored to your specific needs.
- Monitoring for both you and your baby. The team watches your heart health and your baby’s development throughout pregnancy, allowing us to spot any subtle changes early and act quickly if needed.
- Planning for a safe delivery and postpartum care. When it’s time to give birth, you will deliver in a setting fully equipped for high-risk pregnancies, complete with appropriate cardiac monitoring and support. We then coordinate follow-up care for your long-term heart health and your baby’s well-being.
- Convenient, “one-stop” care. Our specialized program makes your life easier by scheduling appointments — cardiology, obstetrics, fetal monitoring — at the same location and often on the same day.
Delivery and postpartum plans if you have a heart condition
Delivery and postpartumGiving birth with a heart condition: Delivery planning and safety
At NewYork-Presbyterian, giving birth when you have a heart condition isn’t left to chance — the cardio-obstetrics team carefully plans and supports every step so you and your baby stay safe.
When it’s time for delivery, your doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, and heart specialists all work together with full knowledge of your medical history. This means your birth plan is customized based on your heart condition and your pregnancy, with special attention paid to cardiac monitoring, pain management, and emergency readiness. If needed, delivery can happen in a dedicated part of the hospital prepared for high-risk births, staffed by experts trained in both maternal care and heart care.
After your baby is born, the team continues to monitor your heart and overall health closely through the postpartum period. Since pregnancy and childbirth put extra strain on the heart and circulation, follow-up appointments, heart-healthy lifestyle guidance, and coordination with cardiology and primary care help protect your long-term health and support recovery.
With NewYork-Presbyterian’s cardio-obstetrics approach, many people with heart disease go on to deliver healthy babies and have healthy recoveries.
After delivery: Protecting your heart in the postpartum period
The postpartum period, the first six to twelve weeks after birth, is a critical time for monitoring your heart. While your body is gradually returning to its pre-pregnancy state, the heart and circulatory system remain under significant strain.
For individuals with pre-existing heart conditions or those who experienced complications like preeclampsia or gestational hypertension during pregnancy, the risk for developing long-term heart issues may be higher. At NewYork-Presbyterian, our focus is on ensuring a safe, healthy recovery through comprehensive follow-up care:
- Continuous monitoring and support. We prioritize the transition from hospital stay to home. Our specialists will ensure you have a detailed plan for medication management, physical activity, and watching for any new or changing symptoms after you leave the hospital.
- Preventive heart health. Our goal is to minimize your long-term cardiovascular risk. The team provides personalized guidance on essential lifestyle changes, including heart-healthy nutrition, stress reduction techniques, and safe weight management.
- Specialized follow-up. Your care continues beyond your standard six-week checkup. We coordinate follow-up appointments with your cardiologist and primary care provider to manage any persistent conditions, such as high blood pressure or lipid disorders, that may have been affected by your pregnancy.
- Future planning. If you are planning another pregnancy, we offer pre-conception consultations to optimize your heart health beforehand, giving you the best chance for a healthy outcome next time.
When to call your doctor — and when to call 911
If you have a heart condition, it can sometimes be challenging to tell the difference between "normal pregnancy changes" and symptoms that require immediate medical attention. This is why it’s important to stay alert and act quickly when something feels off.
Call your doctor promptly if you notice:
- New or worsening shortness of breath. Breathing feels harder than you’d expect in pregnancy, especially when resting or lying flat.
- Persistent or uncomfortable heart palpitations. A racing, fluttering, or skipping heartbeat that doesn’t settle or feels unusual.
- Sudden or unusual swelling. Swelling that appears quickly, is more than expected, or affects your hands, face, or one leg more than the other.
- Ongoing dizziness, fatigue, or weakness. Feeling light-headed, unusually tired, or unable to do normal activities.
- Any symptom that feels “off.” If something doesn’t feel right, even if it seems small, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your doctor.
Call 911 immediately if you experience:
- Chest pain or pressure. Tightness, heaviness, or pain spreading to your neck, arm, back, or jaw.
- Sudden trouble breathing. Severe shortness of breath, especially if it comes on quickly or worsens when lying down.
- Fainting or passing out. Sudden loss of consciousness or near-fainting with dizziness, confusion, or weakness.
- Sudden, severe swelling. Swelling in one leg or arm, or swelling with pain, redness, or warmth.
- Severe headache or vision changes. Sudden blurred vision, slurred speech, or neurological changes.
- Unusual bleeding or severe abdominal pain. Any heavy bleeding or intense abdominal pain after delivery.
This content has been reviewed by the following medical editors.