A brief discussion of how pregnancy can aggravate the symptoms of pulmonary congestion caused by mitral stenosis. Remember, the mitral valve sits between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
Mitral stenosis is acquired and usually caused by rheumatic fever.
This pressure pushes fluids out of the blood vessels into and around the cells of the lungs. Pregnancy, with its increase in fluid volume as well as its increase in heart rate and cardiac output, may worsen the symptoms of pulmonary congestion. This can sometimes lead to a decrease in cardiac output, a decrease in uterine blood flow, and potential heart failure. The primary symptom is increased fatigue with minimal activity, but can include shortness of breath and lightheadedness or fainting. During pregnancy these symptoms are worse between twenty and thirty weeks, but can be exacerbated at the time of delivery and in the postpartum period due to the increase in heart rate and blood volume.