Did you know that:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the term used for any defect of the heart, heart valves or main blood vessels that is present at birth.
- In Australia, 8 babies are born with CHD everyday. That’s almost 3000 babies per year!
- CHD is the most common birth defect, and the leading cause of deaths in children under 1 year of age in Australia.
- Mothers (and fathers) can have CHD too! With medical advances, more and more babies affected by CHD are surviving and thriving into adulthood - about 65,000 Australian children and adults live with CHD.
- There are many risk factors for CHD including family history, genetics, infections during pregnancy, medications/drugs, smoking, and high blood sugar levels.
Risk factors for CHD can be reduced prior to getting pregnant, and some CHDs can be detected on ultrasound during pregnancy. Women with CHD can also become mothers - they just require closer care and monitoring throughout their pregnancy. If you have any concerns about CHD, speak to your GP, Obstetrician/Gynaecologist or Midwife.