By Staff Reporter
The Indian woman had a miscarriage during her first pregnancy after facing several medical challenges
Dubai: 26-year-old expat with severe heart disease delivers healthy baby in rare high-risk pregnancy
Despite suffering from severe congenital heart disease, a 26-year-old woman defied the odds and recently delivered a healthy baby boy at a hospital in Dubai.
Indian expatriate S. Mohammed faced several medical challenges. She had a miscarriage during her first pregnancy. But before that, she had a congenital cyanotic heart disease that required three major surgeries during her early years to correct her circulatory system.
The surgeries improved her heart function but there were also complications, including elevated lung pressure, left heart pump dysfunction, a residual hole in her heart, and narrowing of a major blood vessel. These factors placed her at extreme risk during her second pregnancy, raising the chances of miscarriage, heart failure, stroke, sudden death, and possible death for both the mother and the baby.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
“Our patient’s high risk pregnancy was quite rare as there were only 50 such cases that have been handled around the world,” said Dr Yogeeswari Vellore Satyanarayanan, cardiology specialist, who led the medical team at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital that took care of the mother and baby.
Dr Satyanarayanan told Khaleej Times: “The pregnancy required meticulous planning, intensive care, and constant monitoring to ensure the best outcome for both the mother and the baby.
Balancing the risks
“Pregnancy is an incredibly challenging time for women with complex congenital heart disease,” said Dr Satyanarayanan. “In this case, we had to balance the risks to both the mother and the baby while ensuring the best possible outcome.”
The mother sought a second opinion at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital at 18 weeks of pregnancy after initial consultations at another hospital failed to identify the full extent of her heart condition.
Thorough evaluation revealed severe pulmonary hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction, and a residual ventricular septal defect —conditions much more severe than initially diagnosed.
“Accurate diagnosis was critical in guiding our decisions and planning the best course of action,” Dr Satyanarayanan explained. “We educated the mother on the specific risks her pregnancy posed. Though she experienced challenges throughout the pregnancy, the team ensured complications were addressed swiftly and appropriately at every stage.”
The doctor added when the mother’s labour began naturally, a normal delivery was attempted, but due to non-progression of labour, a cesarean section was ultimately performed, delivering a healthy baby boy weighing 2.5 kilograms.
“This was a pivotal moment, as delivering a baby with a severe congenital heart condition often requires special consideration to avoid the risks posed by childbirth. Although normal delivery is usually preferred, we had to be prepared for all possibilities,” said Dr Satyanarayanan, explaining: “A cesarean section can introduce its own risks, such as hemorrhage and fluid shifts. However, with careful monitoring and management, we ensured a safe delivery.”
Postpartum recovery
Following the successful delivery, the mother faced the additional challenge of postpartum recovery. “For women with congenital heart conditions, this period is often the most critical, as major hemodynamic changes continue to affect their heart function for several months. The mother required extended hospital care to stabilise her condition, but with expert medical support, she made a smooth recovery,” said Dr Satyanarayanan.
Dr Sabeena Sadath, consultant obstetrics and gynecology at Medcare Sharjah, added: “Delivering a baby in such a complicated case is a remarkable achievement. The combination of the mother’s severe heart disease, the heightened risks during labour, and the complex decision-making required throughout her pregnancy made this case especially challenging. What we have seen here is the power of multidisciplinary care and continuous monitoring.”
Both the mother and the baby are now at home and healthy. The mother said: “I am incredibly thankful to the entire medical team for their dedication and expertise. They carried my baby in my tummy and the entire pregnancy for me till term.
“From the time I consulted them initially, they took the entire stress of my high-risk pregnancy and allowed me to enjoy my motherhood experience like any other pregnant woman. Thanks to their support, I was able to bring my healthy baby into the world. This has been a challenging but miraculous journey, and I am forever grateful,” she added.
