Your congenital heart disease can affect your baby. Your baby may be smaller if your heart does not pump as efficiently as it should and delivers less oxygen and nutrients to the placenta and your developing baby.
Babies may be born prematurely. You'll be offered regular scans during pregnancy to ensure that your baby is growing normally and healthily.
Depending on the type of congenital heart disease you have, there's a chance that your baby could inherit the condition. For example, if you have Marfan syndrome there's a one in two chance your baby could inherit the condition.
The British Heart Foundation has information for parents on coping with a child's congenital heart disease. Visit The British Heart Foundation's website here (opens in new tab)
You need to know as much as you can about your condition, so your baby can get special care, if necessary, when they are born.
Many, but not all, conditions in an unborn baby can be detected during pregnancy. The future management of your pregnancy and care of your baby will be discussed with you. A specialist children's heart doctor (cardiac paediatrician) will advise you on the options available once your baby is born.