Maintaining heart health is important in all areas of life, but when your body is a home to a developing human, it is even more vital. Be sure to become familiar with your family’s history so that you know which symptoms and diagnoses to look out for during and after your pregnancy. Also try to get down to a healthy weight, as risks for heart complications tend to go up when you are overweight or obese.

Key Takeaways:

• Heart issues are one of the leading problems leading to pregnancy complications and pregnancy-related deaths.
• To give your pregnancy the best chance, lose weight before deciding to get pregnant, track your blood pressure and know your family heart health history.
• Even if you smoke, don’t do it while pregnant, as it can cause problems for the baby, such as low birth weight.

“Being overweight increases your risk for high blood pressure. Eating healthy foods and being physically active can help you lose weight before you get pregnant. Getting to a healthy weight before pregnancy is good for both you and your baby.”

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