BALTIMORE -- Doctors are trying to make women aware of the fact that heart attacks can occur during pregnancy.

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Doctors at Mercy Medical Center said only one in 10,000 to 30,000 women have heart attacks during pregnancy, so most OB/GYNs will never see one in their practice.

Dr. Brian Kahn has been practicing for more than 22 years and said he has never seen one, nor does he want to, but a heart attack is often different in pregnant women.

"They've done studies that look at the pathology of these heart attacks. In about one-quarter of the patients, they have a dissection of the blood vessel -- a tear in the blood vessel -- rather than a clot or blockage in the artery," Kahn said.

But according to Mercy OB/GYN Dr. Erika Nichelson, the risk factors are the same: high blood pressure, obesity, a family history, diabetes, smoking and age.

"As women get older and delay pregnancy into their 40s, it is something to consider. The No. 1 killer of men and women is heart disease, so it's something to be aware of," Nichelson said.

She said the symptoms of a heart attack in pregnancy can also be different, including feeling like you have severe indigestion.