You should not smoke, and should eat a low fat diet, exercise regularly, and take aspirin if your doctor recommends it. Yes, it can. There are some conditions that historically carry a higher risk of complications and even death during pregnancy or after delivery. Again, it is very important for any woman with a heart problem to speak to her doctor before pregnancy or when she first learns that she is pregnant. Some congenital heart defects cause no problems without treatment.
Examples are very small holes in the muscles that divide the two pumping chambers.
Other heart defects can cause high pressure in the lung, which cannot be reversed with medication or surgery. Other problems can cause weakening of the pump function of the heart, such as leaky valves. Some severe congenital heart defects can be repaired with one or more operations. High blood pressure does not cause congenital heart disease. People are born with congenital heart disease.