Perventions

The critical time for prevention of a congenital heart defect is before a woman becomes pregnant and during the first trimester of pregnancy. Prior to pregnancy, every woman should confirm that she is immune to rubella. If she is not certain she's been vaccinated, she should be tested and vaccinated if she shows no immunity. During pregnancy, every woman should take a multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid on a daily basis.

All women should avoid using street drugs during pregnancy and try to avoid viral infections, especially those of the upper respiratory tract.

Women also should control their exposures to the following during pregnancy:

Alcohol
Prescription medications, especially lithium and those drugs that treat acne and seizures
X-rays and strong chemicals, such as solvents