There is no known way to prevent congenital heart defects, but there are things you can do to lower the chance that your baby will have a congenital heart defect. However, even after you lower the risks, your baby may still develop a congenital heart defect.
If you are planning to become pregnant or are pregnant, talk to your doctor about any medicines that you are taking, including:
1. Over-the-counter medicines
2. Prescription medicines
3. Vitamin and mineral supplements
4. Herbal supplements
Your doctor will recommend that you take folate before you become pregnant. This is recommended mainly to prevent abnormalities in the baby's nervous system, and there is some evidence tha it may also help prevent certain types of congenital heart defects.
You should avoid:
- Strong chemicals, including some cleaning products
- Repeated exposure to x rays
- Any harmful or poisonous materials.
If you or anyone in your family has congenital heart disease, genetic testing may be available. This may show a genetic cause for congenital heart disease. Testing cannot prevent congenital heart disease, but may be able to make you aware of the risks.
Source http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
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