Maternal cardiac disease is most likely to have which effect on the fetus?

• A. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
• B. Hydrops
• C. Intraventricular hemorrhage
• D. Anencephaly

Answer: (A)

Maternal cardiac disease often reduces cardiac output and placental perfusion. The fetus depends on steady uteroplacental blood flow for oxygen and nutrients; when perfusion is chronically decreased, fetal growth slows, leading to intrauterine growth restriction. This is the most common fetal effect in this situation. In severe cases, hydrops can occur due to fetal heart failure, but it’s less common. Intraventricular hemorrhage and anencephaly aren’t typical consequences of maternal heart disease because they arise from other etiologies such as prematurity-related brain injury or neural tube defects.