Baby with heart problems

[littlenic]

Hello,
I had my 20wk scan two days ago and the sonographer found fluid around the baby's heart and an enlarged pulmonary artery.
We're scheduled for a fetal echocardiogram on Monday at a specialist cardiac unit so I'm hoping we'll find out more then but I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this? I'm devastated that my baby may have a problem and scared at the thought they may need surgery in the future....I wish there was something I could do...

 

[laura1401]

Hey, I have a congenital heart problem and have always had extra scans throughout all three of my pregnancies to check the babies hearts. I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and had our 20 wk scan as planned and was told everything was normal but just to check was told I would be rescanned at 26 wks. Well at this scan we were told they were suspicious of babies aorta having an narrowing (coarctation) and that I would need to see a paed cardiologist for another scan. We were totally devastated by this news and are still coming to terms with it. I've since seen the cardiologist who is 98% sure that there is a narrowing and they are planning to operate within 48 hrs of delivery. They can't be 100% sure till he is delivered and has more checks and tests but that's the plan so far. Apparently cardiac conditions in babies are the most common abnormality and most often are surgically repaired with good results. We have been told that from delivery to surgery to going home should be within 14 days. I'm hoping and praying that when he's born he will be 100% heart healthy and that the scan was wrong due to babies poor position. I'm also reassured that they have found this potential problem ante-natal and not post delivery when more problems can occur if heart defects aren't noted.
I'm sure your little one will be fine and there's always the chance our babies will be totally heart healthy, if not I know they will receive the best care.

 

[going_crazy]

Hi, my daughter was born with severe heart problems, but we didn't know before she was born. At the moment, all I can suggest is wait for the in depth cardiac scan (do you know where you'll be having it done?)
Try not to panic, and when you have your scan, make sure you ask anything you need to - no question is a silly question.

Sending hugs xxxx

 

[Stressbucket]

A friend's son was discovered to have a heart problem when he was in utero. I don't know if it's a similar type, and I don't want to scare or worry you with irrelevant comparisons, but he is two now, healthy and very rambunctious.

Ask questions, get a good idea of what they think happens next, and be as good to yourself as you can.

Thoughts and prayers.

 

[littlenic]

Thank you ladies, you all sound so calm which is what I need. I have jumped to worse case scenarios (more to mentally prepare myself so that hearing anything other than worse case news from the consultant will be good news).
I'm so glad the appointment is tomorrow as I almost feel that my pregnancy has been put on hold until we know what's going on.
The appointment is at the cardiac unit in Leeds, uk.

 

[Taylah]

Just wanted to wish u & your lo best of luck with your appointment, please let us know how you go xxx

 

[laura1401]

Good luck for today xx

 

[going_crazy]

Hope today has gone ok xx

 

[LilyRian]

my little man was born with a pretty rare heart condition and had 2 surgeries at 4 weeks old. he will have to have further surgery but he's 5 months now and doing great. hang in there hun its absolutely amazing what they can tell you now from scans etc, my sons condition is about his pulmonary artery also so if the worst come to worst and your baby does have some issues then feel free to pm me at anytime but i have everything crossed for you xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[going_crazy]

my little man was born with a pretty rare heart condition and had 2 surgeries at 4 weeks old. he will have to have further surgery but he's 5 months now and doing great. hang in there hun its absolutely amazing what they can tell you now from scans etc, my sons condition is about his pulmonary artery also so if the worst come to worst and your baby does have some issues then feel free to pm me at anytime but i have everything crossed for you xxxxxxxxxxx

Hey! What condition does your LO have? My daughter also has a rare combination of heart defects! x

 

[syberspaced]

My baby was diagnosed with AV Canal at 20 weeks, and just 2 weeks ago, the ultrasound shows the coarction of the aorta as well. They cannot tell the degree of narrowing from the ultrasound, they are waiting until she is born to do echocardiogram. From there, they may choose to operate right away, or make us wait. Kind of up in the air til they examine her. I don't know about coarction of the aorta, but AV Canal occurs roughly 1 in 10,000 births. I am extremely nervous for baby Abi, she is scheduled to be born by c section December 17th.
Good Luck, and keep us posted.

 

[laura1401]

Hey syberspaced, my LO also has been diagnosed with coarctation of aorta, although they don't seem to want to section me??? I too was born with a coarctation of the aorta and I'm now 34 and onto my third pregnancy, so I know how successful the outcomes are for heart babies, (being one myself) though it doesn't stop me worrying about my baby. Whereabouts are u? Xx

I'm hoping everything went well with op babies cardiac echo, hope to hear soon.

 

[MikaylasMummy]

Just jumping in for the ladies who have buns with coarctation of aorta.my friends little girl was born with coarctation but it wasn't diagnosed for a month.she was very little lost a lot of weight and couldn't eat but she survived for a whole month not overly sick before they found out and acted.she has had three heart surgeries at 4 1/2 years old and is doing fabulously.a healthy little thriving girl.just for those who want some hope everything will be ok.x

 

[syberspaced]

Hey Laura, I am in Maryland. I elected for a c section only because I have had one before, then a VBAC, but now I am 42 and with the baby having 2 heart issues, and me delivering at a specialty hospital the perinatologist agreed with me that a controlled environment would be best for me. I have heard of a lot of heart babies being born vaginally very successfully, though! I am sorry to hear about your lo, but in our cases, at least we know! They have come so far with procedures. As you know, a normal life is the often predicted outcome, after surgery. It still scares the living heck out of me though! Good luck to all on here, and you and your lo's are in my prayers.

 

[littlenic]

Hi ladies, thank you for your kind words and thoughts. We had a good experience at the cardiac unit and found out that the fluid has reduced and the artery isn't big enough to be a concern - the motivational chat I had with baby over the weekend must have done the trick!
Good luck with your pregnancies xxx

 

[laura1401]

That's great news, soo pleased xx