Extra scans for heart

[GingerPCatt]

My DS was born with a heart defect that had to be surgically corrected at 3 wks. I'm pg and the mw said I need extra scans to check this baby's development. I called and talked to another mw and she said the scans won't be until after my 12 wk scan. Does this seem right? Does anyone else have any experience with this? I'm considering getting a private scan because I have momentary freak outs that there is something wrong. Would they be able to check the heart?

[mrsbigz]

Hi there we had a heart scan with our last pregnancy at about 16wks but would have had to go back at around 21wks for a more detailed scans before then I believe the heart isn't developed enough for them to study properly (and see all the valves etc are working as they should be) - so I think they are probably right in when they are suggesting you go for a first heart scan.
If course that doesn't help when you are worrying about your unborn baby - and I hope that everything turns out well for you! How is your dc1 now? X

[GingerPCatt]

Thanks
DS is great now. A happy active little boy. I think I was more traumatized about the whole thing then he is/was. I'm a worrier by nature and I'm trying to stay calm. The docs all said that the defect wasn't a genetic thing so more than likely new babe will be fine.

[DinoSnores]

Sounds right. My DD1 was stillborn and had a heart defect. When I was pregnant with DD2, I had fetal echos by GOSH at 16 weeks and 22 weeks. If you think about it, the heart is tiny then, never mind at 12 weeks so there really is nothing that can be done or much seen before then. I hope everything is fine for you and your baby this time round.

[PrettyFlyForAWifi]

My dd had a heart defect. We lost her at 22 weeks. With my next pregnancy I had my first foetal cardiac scan at 16 weeks as the heart is just too small for much to be seen prior to that. Then I had another at 21 weeks and thankfully was then discharged.
We did, however, have a great 12 week scan and were able to see all 4 chambers which, as our dd had died as a result of having only 3, gave us a huge sense of relief as we thought whatever else might be wrong, at least if we have 4 chambers it will be correctable. So depending on the defect you may be able to get an indication that all is well earlier than you think. Good luck - it's such a nerve wracking time, isn't it, will be thinking of you x

[MotherOfNations]

I'm 25 weeks pregnant with a baby girl who's heart defect (Tretalogy of Fallot) wasn't picked up u til 22 wks.
We knew there was something wrong at the 12 wk scan as the baby had a large cystic hygroma but downs was presumed. When an amnio came back clear I was told that a heart defect was likely but that it wouldn't be picked up until 21 wks.

[GingerPCatt]

Guess I have to wait a while longer to see if there are any issues. Thank you all for guiding me through this. The MW didnt Really seem to know much about the extra scans.
DS's defect wasn't detected on the scans so we didn't know until he was born.

[MrsDibble]

Hello. My dd was born with a heart defect which was detected on 20 week scan. She had two ops under GOSH at 9 weeks and 9 months and is now completely fine - starting school next week.

I am under UCH with second pg. I think before 12 weeks might be a bit early to look at heart. I am now 15 + weeks. I had a cardiac scan at 12 + weeks and they were able to tell me quite alot about the heart - they could see four chambers, valves fine and all the blood vessels in the right place (dd had a double outlet right ventricle). The only thing they aren't able to tell completely at this stage is whether there could be a small hole - they might be able to tell if there was a big one, but they said they could never give a definite negative at this stage. I am having my 20 week scan in fetal medicine at UCH so they can look at the heart.

A good hospital should know what they are doing about cardiac scan and should be able to offer you something similar. They did say they couldn't always do the cardiac scan at this stage but with me they could see OK because I am small.

Btw I was able to get referred to UCH even though I don't live in the area any more because, having had one child with heart defect, I would need the extra scans. Perhaps you could try to transfer to a specialist hospital if you don't have confidence in current hospital?

[whiteandyellowiris]

We also had heart scans at gosh at 16 weeks and 22 weeks due to losing our ds1 to heart problems

I remember them saying at 16 weeks the heart is half the size of a peanut
So that's why they see you twice
At 16 weeks that can usually see. If the structure is there
An at 22 weeks it's larger so they can kinda confirm there previous findings