Heart Health Before, During, and After Pregnancy
Heart health connects primary care and maternal health across every stage of life. Pregnancy can reveal health risks that deserve attention long after childbirth and planning for a healthy heart can begin before pregnancy.
Before pregnancy: Know your starting point
Discuss your blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, family history, and medications with your healthcare professional. If you have an existing cardiovascular condition, ask whether you need specialist care before becoming pregnant. Review medications with your clinician rather than stopping them on your own.
During pregnancy: Stay connected to care
Attend prenatal appointments and follow your care team’s recommendations for monitoring, nutrition, and physical activity. High blood pressure and gestational diabetes require attention during pregnancy and can also signal increased cardiovascular risk later in life. These conditions belong in your long-term health history.
After pregnancy: Keep the conversation going
Recovery does not end at hospital discharge. Ask your obstetric team who will manage your ongoing care and what follow-up you need. Tell your primary care clinician about pregnancy complications, even years later. This information can guide future screening and prevention.
Know when to seek urgent help
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, or a fast-beating heart can be urgent warning signs during pregnancy and in the year afterward. Seek immediate medical care; call 911 for severe symptoms. Tell the healthcare team that you are pregnant or have been pregnant within the past year.
At PPHEquity, we connect education with action: understanding warning signs, speaking up, and staying connected to care. Protecting maternal health includes protecting heart health before, during, and beyond pregnancy.
Learn more: American Heart Association: Maternal Health · CDC: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs
For education only. Your healthcare team can help create a plan for your individual needs.