Trained in family medicine, internal medicine, and cardiology, Peter Gregor, MD, possesses more than 35 years of experience in inpatient consultations and non-invasive cardiology procedures. Alongside other medical professionals, Peter Gregor, MD, founded Kentucky Grown Up Heart Disease, which works to improve patient outcomes for people living with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Women with CHD generally experience high-risk pregnancies, and as such, should talk to their physicians well in advance of becoming pregnant to mitigate the risks to themselves and the fetus.
For example, mothers with forms of CHD that are caused by genetic factors should consult a geneticist and monitor the fetus’ heart development with routine ultrasounds. Additionally, the mother’s medication regimen should be reviewed by an experienced physician and adjusted to reduce harm to the fetus.
Since physiological changes to the body during the third trimester can greatly impact blood pressure, women with CHD must be closely monitored during the last months of pregnancy. While many CHD pregnancies are delivered via C-section, this choice is determined on a case-by-case basis and most women are able to deliver vaginally.
