Key points about pregnancy and heart health after childhood cancer
- some chemotherapy medicines and radiation can affect your heart
- if you're pregnant, make sure your maternity carers know about the childhood cancer treatment you've had
- your healthcare team may need to check your heart during pregnancy
Effects of pregnancy on the heart
During pregnancy and labour the heart needs to work much harder because it has to pump more blood around your body. Heart problems can sometimes develop when you're pregnant.
Make sure your maternity carers know what treatment you received - remember to give them a copy of your treatment summary ('health passport'), available from your LEAP team. Check the LEAP contacts on the long-term follow-up page.
Long-Term Follow-Up After Childhood Cancer
Most young women do not have any problems but your healthcare team may need to check your heart during pregnancy. Read more about your heart after childhood cancer.
Your Heart After Childhood Cancer
Monitoring your heart during pregnancy after childhood cancer
Make sure your maternity carers have a copy of your treatment summary.
Echocardiogram
If you have had a heart scan (echocardiogram) before becoming pregnant and this was normal, you won't need further routine scans. If not, then you should have a heart scan during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
You will need another heart scan if you develop:
- shortness of breath
- unexpected tiredness
- blood pressure changes
- ankle swelling
You will probably need to see the high-risk maternity team.
Specialised care
You may need specialist care - this might be from a medical doctor (obstetrician or GP). You will also be under the care of your midwife.
Your healthcare team may suggest a hospital birth rather than a home birth if they think you are high risk.
Checking your heart during each pregnancy after childhood cancer
Acknowledgements
All the pages in the childhood cancer section of this website have been written by health professionals who work in the field of paediatric oncology. They have been reviewed by the members of the National Child Cancer Network (NZ). Medical information is authorised by the clinical leader of the National Child Cancer Network.
