Pregnancy is a journey no less than a miracle and comes with a lot of changes in a woman’s body, and your heart is not barred from it. If you have an ongoing Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) issue, it does impact you when you get pregnant. In this blog, we have detailed some steps that you can take to make things easier, along with some monitoring techniques and lifestyle adjustments to ensure a healthy pregnancy while managing AFib.
1. Be Active and Driven
The time of pregnancy is more than just joy; you must carefully consider all aspects of your health, especially if you have a history of AFib. Before you get on a family way, ask your cardiologist about the pros and cons. Having a discussion prior to actual pregnancy allows your team to devise strategies, including medications and lifestyle adjustments. By being woke and dynamic, minimize potential complications for a smoother pregnancy experience.
2. Monitor Your Heart Rate
The workload on your heart significantly increases during pregnancy, with blood volume amounting to 50%. While a moderate level increase in heart rate is expected and normal, those with a history of AFib should be more careful.
Regular monitoring of heart rate aids your practitioner to intervene early if needed. Keeping your heart rate at a moderate level is a must to make sure both you and your baby stay well during this unique phase of life.
3. Watch for Blood Clots
AFib heightens the risk of developing blood clots, and being aware of it is crucial for overall health. If you are on blood-thinning medications, talk to your cardio expert to adjust them during pregnancy. Make sure you know all the symptoms, such as leg swelling or chest pain, ensuring prompt recognition and response.
4. Adopting Lifestyle Changes
Maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle is crucial on the whole and increasingly important during pregnancy for all women and those with AFib. Devise a well-balanced diet, try minimizing saturated fats and cholesterol, and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Other than that, stop smoking and alcohol consumption, and add moderate exercise as part of your routine. These lifestyle changes contribute not only to heart health but also to a smoother pregnancy.
Closing Note
The thought of managing AFib during pregnancy may seem daunting, but with proper planning ahead of the game, it is manageable. Your topmost priority should be the well-being of yourself and your baby. At Atrial Fibrillation Centers of America, Dr. Shanti Bansal – board certified in Internal Medicine (2010), Nuclear Cardiology (2011), Cardiology (2011), and Electrophysiology (2013), and the team is here to deal with all aspects of your cardio needs. You can consult us at (832) 478-5067 or give us a visit in Houston, TX, for more information on stress tests.