Is it safe for women with heart defects to have children?

Marit Sandberg photo Per Olav Søvberg — Marit Sandberg is a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and serves as a senior consultant at the Women's Clinic, Haukeland University Hospital. She is an exceptional science communicator, a talent she demonstrated by winning the Bergen edition of the Researcher Grand Prix in autumn 2024. Photo: Per Olav Søvberg

An increasing number of women with congenital heart defects are giving birth in Norway. Join a seminar hosted by the Center for Research on Women’s Heart Disease. Speaker: Marit Sandberg, MD, PhD, will share insights into maternal and child health outcomes in this growing patient group.

Pregnancy affects the entire body, with the heart and circulatory system undergoing significant changes. In many ways, pregnancy can be considered a stress test for the female body. In Norway, we are seeing a rise in the number of women with congenital heart defects who go on to have children. This is due to both improved diagnostic technologies and better quality of life, making pregnancy a viable option for more women.

But do these women experience pregnancy and childbirth in the same way as others? And how do mother and child fare?

Marit Sandberg has analyzed Norwegian registry data to gather insights from over 6,000 pregnancies in women with congenital heart defects.

Everyone is welcome!