Heart abnormalities and scans

My son was actually born with a heart condition that wasn’t seen in ultrasounds, he had open heart surgery at 11 days old, and you would never know it looking at him now ❤️ keep your head up everything is going to be okay!

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That must have been so scary, especially when they’re so little 🙈 I’m glad he’s okay now! Babies can be such little fighters can’t they. Thank you ♥️ x

My sons heart defect was not detected in my sanograms. I found out he had a heart defect at 3 weeks old. I was devastes, broken till this day but I love him so much that I am trying to pull it together. He hasn’t needed any procedures yet, just monitoring. I pray your baby does not have anything and everything is fine because it is the worst feeling to have, I blame myself and will always blame myself for what he has but no matter what I will love him until the day I take my last breath.

My nephew had a strange heart condition during pregnancy it’s of extra heartbeats) and my sister had to go for scans weekly and took medication throughout the whole pregnancy. He arrived and they did monitoring, was absolutely fine in the end. It’s scary, but going to get checked is the best you can do and just follow whatever advice they give you. Allow yourself to feel worried, it’s natural to be concerned. You’ll get the answers you need tomorrow, good luck!x

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Oh wow! That’s so good he was fine when he was born. I think that’s what I need, answers. It’s the unknown that scares me more. I’m just so glad I’m not being made to wait ages before getting them. But it feels longer when you’re worried doesn’t it 🙈 thank you x

I was born with a bad heart problem and I am fine now. Things have come so much further than when I was little. I also have to have a heart scan for my baby. Don’t panic your under the best hands 💗

Good luck with you scan tomorrow xxx

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Hope your scan went ok, have been thinking of you xxx

Thank you ♥️

Were you low risk for the screening test? I have the same thing, where I am 28 weeks at the moment and I am having to go for extra scans at a specialist hospital. I’ve been told it is VSD which is basically a hole in the heart. I’ve been told it’s very common and I see so many stories of people being born with heart problems, only for everything to be completely fine with them as children and adults! I hope everything will be ok for you tomorrow. I know how you feel though, it’s so impossible not to worry! Try and get some sleep, as that will be the best thing for you and baby!

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Yes low risk as well. Could need an operation once baby is born if the hole doesn’t close naturally. Hope your scan has gone ok today and you’ve got some answers x

Yes, I was low risk at the screening tests. Were you? Oh I’m sorry to hear that. It’s so hard not to worry. In your case, do they have to do anything for baby once it’s born? Or is it a wait and see thing? Thank you ♥️ x

I have to have one also. But its at 24 weeks. So a month a way. Please let me know how you go. And good luck.

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I will do, thank you. X

Worry is just a useless drain on your imagination, give your imagination something else to focus on. You can cross these bridges once you have all the information that the doctors provide you. I know it’s so hard to not be anxious especially in the beginning, but literally anything is better than stressing out when you don’t have all the information. Maybe grab a pedicure or enlist a gf to distract you today with a visit, go for a walk at the beach or near any large body of water, or binge a stupid vapid mini series like emily in paris.

I hope everything’s okay, good luck tomorrow hun xx

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Thank you xx

My best friend was born with tetralogy of fallot (a pretty big deal in 1984). She had surgery as an infant, a valve replacement about 5 years ago, plays football, does cross fit, and gave birth to her first baby 10 weeks ago.

So sorry for what you're going through praying over your baby now! In Christ name Amen!!!!

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Thank you x

Not my baby, but me. My mum was told I had heart problems. She had to have me 6 weeks early as my heart wasn't working properly. It turned out I had a hole in my heart, heart murmur and ectopic beat. The hole healed itself with no surgery, the heart murmur is innocent and I rarely feel an ectopic beat. I'm absolutely fine, was discharged from paediatrics at age 3 and not had a problem since. Good luck🥰❤

I just had my scan 2 weeks ago they said something was on babys heart I forget what they said it started with the letter E. I just went back for a ultrasound and they said its nothing to worry about. I know it's hard but try not to worry. Il keep you and baby in my thoughts ❤

The doctors told my parents that I had a hole in my heart(can't remember the name for it) and told them to expect me to be stillborn. They even had a second doctor's opinion. But a few checkups down the line it was gone and completely healed. So even if there is something wrong with your baby's heart, it could fix itself on it's own. I hope everything is ok and your baby is all healthy!!❤❤❤

Hey Alexandra how did you get one. My little one had added scans in pregnancy(my oldest) he had two holes in his heart and by the age of one he was discharged from cardiology with them closed by themselves. Originally there was mention of surgery to close them but he didn't need it and they appeared worse than what they actually were when he came out. He was born in the afternoon so we had to stay 2 days while they tried to fit us in for an echo once he was born but he stayed with me, fed fine and in he insight you could tell when a hold closed/got smaller as he got a lease of life each time. Let me know how you get on and honestly feel free to message me if you have any more questions or need someone to vent/cry to. I've been there ❤️❤️

My baby had a heart murmur they had to do a echocardiogram on him once hospital and I had to take him to his pediatrician for another one to make sure it wasn’t serious

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He had a hole in his heart but it closed up but he still have the heart murmur which will eventually go away

Wen I was pregnant with my 3rd baby he was born with hole in heart feel free to message me and I can take you through it xx

My first kid was born with a hole in his heart and it wasn’t caught by the ultrasounds. We’re being referred to a specialist office for the 20 week ultrasound this time because their machine is stronger and might be able to pick out a hole

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I didn’t no my second had one until he was born

My niece has a heart condition and has had four open heart surgeries and she isn’t even eight yet! But other then that she leads a normal life! My babies heart will be automatically checked because of this. Try not to worry to much although it’s easier said then done - cardiologists are amazing nowadays!

This happened to me at my 20 week scan it was the VSD? We had 2 extra scans with a fetal heart specialist and on the first one were told they couldn’t see anything then on the second they were looking for ages and said there was the tiniest small muscular VSD but this may even close before birth. They discharged me from that unit and said he was fine and I can have a normal delivery. Please do not panic, I was like you and I couldn’t breathe for crying on the phone to the hospital asking the specialists to see me sooner (practically begging) and everything turned out absolutely fine. Putting stress on yourself and baby is more of a risk. If you want anymore info please let me know 😊 xx

My son is a cardiac baby scans never picked it up hes got tetralogy of Fallot, he had open heart surgery at 18months at Royal Brompton they are amazing there i couldnt thank them enough, my son was in and out of hospital was on prescription milk as he didn't keep any weight on, they keep an eye on his oxygen had a nurse come out to our home, constantly keeping checks on him, he had scans, after the operation they never left his side, if one nurse had to go another took over, now he has a check up every year, these specialist know what they are doing you and baby will be in safe hands xx

Our little boy has been diagnosed with TOF at the 20 week scan, can honestly say it was some of the work weeks of My life, I went through every emotion and still do at times! We are now almost 31 weeks and who ever the team is that will look after you will be amazing! They will put the health of you and the baby first! Make sure you write down any questions your have when you think of them and take them with you! You will have more scans and tests and to be honest having those extra checks is what has put my mind at ease, they will talk you through it all! Try to stay off google too! Always on chat if you need someone to talk to! You are not in this alone! Make sure you keep talking about it, it’s important you get your emotions out and don’t bottle them in and work yourself into a corner! Hope the scan went ok xx

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Unfortunately I think we all fall for it, the night we found out my husband spent the whole night googling which did not help! We got so upset by it all we said they was enough and not to do it again! Baby’s are stronger than we realise and they are in the best hands when they arrive! I hope it goes ok for you too❤️

Hi! I had some extra scans when I was pregnant because I have heart issues. I was born with them and although we’re not 100% sure it’s more than likely genetic. I pray everything is great with your little one and if they do find something just listen and trust in your doctors. Cardiologists now are amazing and they will be in great hands! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to

My baby had an irregular heart beat at 20 weeks. We followed up with cardiologist twice and by the second echo the heart beat was normal and we no longer have to see them. I did have to stop all caffeine which was difficult!

New York City story. I had a heart condition at 17.5 weeks. They said hole in the heart, confirmed with doppler, plus a marker for down syndrome. I did amniocenthesis to rule out the second horror and fetal cardiologist did not see the VSD at all. Healthy baby, im at 23 weeks now. Please do not worry and please see one or two cardiologists that do a specific ultrasound for the baby's heart. Best time to go is after week 21, earlier nothing is certain and additional visits add extra stress. Please be well and remember that many heart issues if any are resolved by themselves or treated now. ♥️ Please don't stress! Equipment is not always right.

🤞🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻fingers crossed 🤞🏻 & praying 🧎‍♀️ 🙏🏻 for you momma 😥 keep us posted please !

I totally understand what you're going through right now!! I am 32 weeks, and I didn't know that my OB suspected something might be wrong with my little boy until last week. I had two sonograms previously where they said that they couldn't get the views of the heart that they needed because he was moving around so much. They told me that that was the reason that they wanted me to get a fetal echocardiogram. They then took forever to get the paperwork over to the cardiologist, so I couldn't make an appointment. Last Friday there was a new sono tech there, and she told me that they had suspected that he possibly had VSD, but I think she said that she didn't see anything. They told me they want me to get the echocardiogram just in case, and I'm like umm yeah!! I am so mad that they didn't tell me sooner that they thought they may have seen something 😠 Its ridiculous! Anyway, I understand your worry and frustration. I'm hoping everything will turn out ok for both of our babies 🤞🏻💜

I had open heart surgery when I was 9 for an ASD repair (hole in the heart). That automatically meant that my baby's heart would be closely examined during & after pregnancy. My anatomy scan with my OB was changed so that I had it with the MFM office instead as they had stronger machines. They also had a separate fetal echo performed. After about 5 appointments in one month, everything checked out and baby has a healthy heart. All babies are born with a hole in their heart but they generally close on their own within a few months after birth, something my family did not know until we went through it with me many years ago. Try to refrain from looking to Google as that will only stress you out more. Write all questions down when you think of them & bring with to ask your doctor. Technology & doctors are amazing these days & will take care of your baby if anything does happen to be wrong. I know many people that have had heart defects & surgeries and lead perfectly normal lives. Best of luck to you both!!

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Geneva, great advice. My son is a heart warrior and had open heart surgery at 5 weeks old. He was born with 3 heart defects. A large VSD that they repaired, a PFO that they closed and a small aortic arch that they left alone because it was not obstructed. It was very scary and stressful for sure but you are right the doctors and the technology they have today are amazing! My son just turned four in October and is strong, healthy and extremely energetic. So I’m praying for all you mommas that baby is going to be fine and not need any of this because it was very hard for me to go through. I’m still nervous about it happening again with my second but at least this time around I’ll know what to expect if it does. The doctors and surgeons really are amazing and help these babies.

Hey Mama, prayer’s and sending strength and positive vibes for you. My daughter had an abdominal birth anomaly seen on our 11 week scan. Because of that there are often heart issues around 30% of the time. They did a fetal echo at around 24 weeks and had some ongoing concerns but also noted that babies heart is still developing and that things like vsds can correct themselves. Baby had lots of extra scans for her belly and an mri showing small lungs. After birth she’s had 3 echos with the last showing nothing of concern! Her belly condition was “repaired” with surgery at 6.5 months. Besides being tiny and gaining weight very slowly she’s doing well. I know it’s so scary and hard to wait and worry, but try as you can not to stress too hard on concerns you may not even need to have yet. Breathe and trust your body and your baby. Babies are fighters and capable of amazing things when healthy or with challenges. 💗💗💗

Pediatric cardiac nurse for 17 years! And educator. Let me know if you have any questions.

I don't have any advice/experience with anomalies on scans as I'm only 17 weeks, but I can say the staff at the Royal Brompton are amazing. I've been with them since I was teeny all the way through to adulthood and they are one of the top heart hospitals in the country, so you and your baby are in very safe and experienced hands. Sending you hugs and lots of positive vibes xxx

I had to have 2 echo scans for my baby due to them seeing multiple possible heart abnormalities, but in the end they said they were mistaken, he's fine. I still have to have a scan to triple check now that he's born, but I don't believe there is anything wrong with his heart. Try not to over worry, I know it's hard! Wishing you all the best.

I had a VSD when i was born and I had heart surgery to patch my hole the size of a silver dollar when i was 4mo old and im now 23 and thriving and i have 2 beautiful babies. Yes it can be scary but if your baby has anything wrong they will be fine. I have to have extra scans with every pregnancy just to make sure they aren't born with the same thing. We thought my son was gonna have a VSD but it closed up on its own before he was born. Im sending you my love, and positive vibes and i hope your baby is perfectly healthy❤

Have faith,everything will be ok

Not with a heart but with kidneys. They improved in the third trimester and the baby is fine. Fingers crossed for you 💓

My daughter had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Sending positive vibes your way

I did with my son and his heart and everything else turned out to be perfectly health

Hey I just see this how it the appointment go x

Praying 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

They thought my daughter has a heart issue as well when I went in for my 20 week anatomy scan. I went in for a repeat scan a week later and they said her heart was fine. It is extremely terrifying and I here for you! I’m so sorry you’re going through this!

Hey Alex, feel free to msg me if God forbid your news wasn’t good. My story with heart abnormalities didn’t end well like the others, but happy to share with you privately. Best wishes x

Praying for you and baby. Hopefully all will be fine try to stay positive. I went through this four years ago with my son and he did end up having 3 heart defects. He had a very large VSD, PFO and a small aortic arch. We were in the NICU for two months after he was born. He had surgery at 5 weeks old to repair the VSD and close the PFO. They left his aortic arch alone because it was not obstructed. It was very scary and hard to go through but has made me stronger through the ecoetirnce. My son turned four this past October and is doing extremely well. So, even if there is something going on with the heart please stay positive, have faith and never give up hope. Modern medicine today is amazing and doctors, surgeons, nurses are also amazing for. The hard part is when going through stuff like this we don’t have a crystal ball to look at to see the outcome. It’s a day to day process. I feel in my heart no matter what your baby will be strong and resilient. Sending healing and positivity.

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Experience, sorry for the typo

Yes my daughter they said she was missing a wall, the blood flow wasnt right, I might have to deliver in a specialized hospital all until she was born she ended up just having a small hole in her heart that sealed up on it's own thank God. Prayers for you and your baby hope it's just an error

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But at the hospital they did think she had a mummer so I did have to go to a pediatric cardiologist twice so far the last time I saw him was when she was a year old and the next time is 5 years old just to make sure it's fully closed but it was practically closed already by 1

Actually yes. When I was 34 weeks, they brought me in for a scan to check for low fluid because I wasn't showing much. They kept me there for 2 hours until the doctor finally got there and was able to tell me that he thought the right side of my baby's heart was enlarged. I went to a pediatric cardiologist next for a fetal echo and she told me that she was positive that it was actually the left side of the heart being too small, and that the baby most likely had a coarctation of the aorta, would need surgery the week he was born, but worst case might need a set of 3 surgeries if they found more issues with the heart after birth. I was devastated and depressed. We met with one of the pediatric cardiac surgeons who told us that 75% our baby would need surgery the first week for his aorta, 25% he would need the set of 3 surgeries, and then corrected himself and said there was probably less than 1% that he would just need monitoring and no surgery.

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My baby was born and was doing great, so he didn't have to have surgery yet. He was in the PCICU and they found no reason to keep him so after a night he went to the step-down unit. We stayed there for a week while his PDA closed and they could see how his heart would function. Now we just take him to get an echo every so often to monitor his heart while it grows.

We had the same at our 20 week scan, baby boy had an enlarged right atrium, we Had lots of testing including amniocentesis and nothing came up. They’ve told us it is an isolated issue and not caused by genetics or anything similar and hopefully shouldn’t cause any other problems. We were referred to Birmingham and have had all our scans there now at fetal medicine and I will be induced at 38-39 weeks. I am confident that it will be something that can be solved when he is born so please stay positive, it has been a very stressful pregnancy but you’ll be in the best hands! Xxxx

My baby's heartbeat slowed down on my checkup 2 weeks ago so (26weeks in)I was sent to the hospital right away. I was worried because I've had a miscarriage last year, but after an hour in observation I was told that everything looked good and was asked to track her kicks and also to use my home fedal dopler more often and make sure her heartbeat stays consistent.

I can totally relate to your post, I had several specialist scans for baby because they found the heart is not on the left hand side but more in the middle of baby's chest. I also had an internal scan, they seemed really concerned which worried me in the earlier stages of the pregnancy. I cried when they told me but I'm so glad they did all the investigations. I'm due tomorrow and baby looks well and healthy, I will have a follow up when she's 8 week's to make sure things are okay. Honestly don't stress and worry, they are doing their jobs and it's best to rule out any abnormalities. Wishing you all the best xxx

Not exactly the same, but my second son had “markers” for a cyst on his heart and Down’s syndrome, he was born with neither. I was also told he was measuring small, he was 9lbs at birth. Sometimes these things are unreliable, there may be hope. Please keep us updated!

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Love this! So glad your son was born healthy and strong. Thank God 🙏🏾

They didn’t see anything wrong with my baby when I was pregnant but he was born with a murmur and had a PDA and a PFO which are valves that didn’t close all the way (causing the murmur). He had to have an echocardiogram when he was a day old and one at 2 months old, which they said the PDA closed and PFO has gotten smaller but isn’t closed all the way. We go back in November (my son will be 9 months) for another echocardiogram to see if the PFO has closed. He is extremely healthy, happy, active and you would have no idea that there’s anything abnormal going on with him. I hope you and your baby as good and healthy 💚

I am 29 weeks with my 3rd and I have had 3 scans since 20 weeks. My son has a heart defect, and suspected digeorge syndrome. I have to have baby in Liverpool womens hospital and baby goes straight to Alderhey. He will.need heart operation 2-4 weeks old and that is our main focus. I just hope my baby grows to the minimum requirement for the operation or he will be given a terminal diagnodis. My advise, you can't control anything. Just go with the scans , the doctors will know exactly what's going on. Don't google too much, general knowledge is OK, but don't overwhelm yourself. Too many fb groups have people over exaggerated which can overwhelm you. Whatever happens on your next scan, they will give you good and bad scenarios, just focus on the best outcome. X

How is your baby doing now?

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Hi. I have had regular scans. Baby is growing fine, but we won't know until he is born when he has all the checks done, what operation he will have. The hospital always plan to do the best . The good news for us is that the only concern is his heart atm, no signs of any other issues. But again, once our baby is born, he will undergo as many scans as needed for a decision on the operation required. Just keep having hope and positive thinking.