Background and aims The purpose of this study was to assess parental awareness of increased risk for congenital heart disease (CHD) in future pregnancies having had a child with CHD.

Methods Using a questionnaire, parents of 21 consecutive children with an antenatal diagnosis of CHD were asked whether they knew that they had an increased risk in future pregnancies; those who were aware were asked how they had heard about this.

Results The parents of 12 patients (57%) had been informed about the increased risk, mostly at their Paediatric Cardiology appointment. The percentage of positive replies was higher after the age of 1 year (77% vs 25%).

Conclusions Parents who have had a child with CHD are at a slightly increased risk for recurrence in future pregnancies. Discussion of this risk can easily be overlooked; it is recommended that this should be included in the information given at follow up cardiac clinics, ideally with written version to take away with them.