Murmur audible during pregnancy is most commonly heard within which gestational window?

• A. 12 to 20 weeks
• B. 6 to 8 weeks
• C. 24 to 28 weeks
• D. After delivery

Answer: (A)

During pregnancy the cardiovascular system becomes hyperdynamic to support the growing fetus. Blood volume and cardiac output rise while systemic vascular resistance falls, which can create a benign flow murmur. This type of murmur is most commonly heard when these hemodynamic changes are well established, which often happens in mid-pregnancy—the 12- to 20-week window. It is typically a soft systolic murmur heard best along the left sternal border and usually resolves after delivery as the circulation returns toward pre-pregnant levels.