Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Program

Doctors at the Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Program use early detection to identify people who are at high risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke after childbirth.

Your chance of developing a cardiovascular condition rises after having a high-risk pregnancy. A high-risk pregnancy can include complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or preeclampsia.

Our preventive cardiologists and maternal–fetal medicine doctors can create a care plan for you that uses prevention strategies and personalized treatments to support your heart health after pregnancy.

High-Risk Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Risk After Childbirth

Pregnancy offers insights into a person’s long-term cardiovascular health. Despite having no other risk factors for heart disease, people who are pregnant and have complications are at a higher risk of developing postpartum cardiovascular disease.

In the United States, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death during pregnancy and following childbirth. Between 10 and 15 percent of pregnancies have at least one complication linked to developing heart disease after childbirth.

High blood pressure alone during pregnancy puts a person at increased risk for chronic high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions during the postpartum period and at an earlier age than expected. These complications can arise within a decade of having a baby. These risks are even higher in Black people, and our doctors are committed to creating a supportive care environment to address these challenges.

Personalized Cardiovascular Care After Pregnancy

At the Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Program, our doctors develop a personalized treatment plan to support your heart health after pregnancy.

Patients are referred to our program three months after delivering a baby. At this point, elevated cholesterol, increased blood volume, and other biological factors unique to pregnancy are no longer present.

Our doctors monitor and manage high blood pressure and lipid disorders, such as high cholesterol, that contribute to early coronary artery disease and stroke. We also treat postpartum cardiomyopathy, or weakening of the heart muscle, which is a rare complication that can develop in the last month of pregnancy and up to five months after delivery.

Our care plans for postpartum cardiovascular conditions may include the following strategies:

• stress reduction
• weight management
• nutritional counseling
• physical activity
• getting enough sleep
• taking medication

If you are planning to conceive again, we offer consultations beforehand to optimize your cardiovascular health. In addition, we partner with doctors at NYU Langone’s Cardio-Obstetrics Program to provide education about heart health and create preventive care plans for people who are currently pregnant or want to become pregnant for the first time.

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment with a provider at the Postpartum Cardiovascular Health Program, please call 212-263-4300.