How women born with a deformed heart are being helped to give birth
A generation ago babies born with a deformed heart, or one that had major holes or missing valves usually died before adolescence. But advances in surgical techniques and medical care mean that there are now around 10,000 women living in the UK with congenital heart disease.
As these women reach their 20s and 30s they are starting to think of having children themselves. Pregnancy puts a strain on the heart so women living with heart disease need some very special care if they are to give birth successfully.
Last year University College London opened a pioneering clinic at the Middlesex Hospital to help support them. The High Risk Cardiac Obstetric Clinic, which is part of GUCH - the Grown-Up Congenital Heart Unit - works to help these women in all sorts of ways, from providing advice on contraception, to monitoring them through pregnancy and birth.
Vicky Irwin is now 27. She was born with a deformed heart, but gave birth to her son Max, successfully with the support of the clinic. Caroline Swinburne accompanies Vicky, Max and Vicky's mother Kim on a follow up visit.
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