Risk factors

Certain environmental and genetic risk factors might play a role in the development of your heart defect, including:

• German measles (rubella). Your mother having had rubella while pregnant could have affected your heart development.
• Diabetes. Your mother having type 1 or type 2 diabetes might have interfered with the development of your heart. Gestational diabetes generally doesn't increase the risk of developing a heart defect.
• Medications. Taking certain medications while pregnant can cause congenital heart and other birth defects. They include isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, others), used to treat acne; and lithium, used to treat bipolar disorder. Drinking alcohol while pregnant also contributes to the risk of heart defects.
• Heredity. Congenital heart disease appears to run in families and is associated with many genetic syndromes. For instance, children with Down syndrome often have heart defects. Genetic testing can detect Down syndrome and other disorders during a baby's development.
• Smoking. A mother who smokes while pregnant increases her risk of having a child with a congenital heart defect.