Championing Patient Voices: Aortic Dissection in Pregnancy at the UK Maternal Cardiology Society Conference
Haleema Saadia, our Pregnancy and Maternity Lead, shared her personal experience of aortic dissection during pregnancy at the UK Maternal Cardiology Society Conference in Birmingham, highlighting the importance of listening to women, recognising risks and ensuring appropriate care before, during and after pregnancy.
I had the honour of representing Aortic Dissection Awareness UK and Ireland at the UK Maternal Cardiology Society Conference in Birmingham.
The two-day programme brought together colleagues from across maternal medicine, cardiology, midwifery, anaesthesia and other related specialties for expert updates, complex case discussions and multidisciplinary learning. Topics included maternal medicine bundles, heart failure in pregnancy, aortic dissection and practical approaches to caring for women with cardiac conditions during pregnancy.
As a patient advocate, it was a truly humbling experience to stand before a room of dedicated obstetricians, cardiologists, surgeons, pharmacists and other medical professionals to raise awareness of aortic disease in pregnancy and champion the voices of women who have experienced misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis or inadequate care.
It was equally inspiring to hear presentations from leading clinicians sharing their frontline experiences, expertise and the significant progress being made across their respective fields to improve outcomes for mothers and their babies.
It is always encouraging to be heard, particularly by medical professionals who are actively driving greater awareness and meaningful systemic change across the healthcare community. Patient voices must be recognised, respected and reflected in every specialty and at every level of care.
During my presentation, I shared my personal experience of suffering an aortic dissection during pregnancy. I emphasised the critical importance of listening to women, providing comprehensive pre-pregnancy counselling and ensuring that women identified as being at risk of aortic dissection receive appropriate, continuous surveillance before, during and after pregnancy.
I am incredibly proud and honoured to use my experience to champion women, particularly those from minority backgrounds, and to advocate for anyone who may feel unheard, overlooked or unaware of the risks associated with aortic disease in pregnancy.
Above all, my mission is to raise vital awareness of aortic disease and its associated risks during pregnancy, helping to prevent avoidable aortic dissections and safeguard the lives of mothers and their children. Just as importantly, I want women to know that they are not alone, that their voices matter and that they deserve to be listened to, supported and empowered to move forward with confidence.
