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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder if your baby had a hole in their heart?

50 replies

Feelingabitscared · 07/01/2022 10:39

Hi, just looking for some reassurance.
20wk scan yesterday showed a suspected VSD, have to wait until Monday to have it confirmed by someone more senior at a different hospital.
I’m trying not to worry but just wondered if anyone has been through the same and everything has been okay (or not)?
I’d appreciate anyone’s experience of this, we didn’t really get given any information and I’m trying not to Google too much but my mind is racing.
I feel so guilty, I feel like it must have been something I did or didn’t do. Said I’d put it out of my mind until Monday but I just can’t think about anything else.

OP posts:

Seriously79 · 07/01/2022 14:17

Yes mine! We didn't know until she was born and a murmur was detected- which can be quite normal.

She was scanned and we were told about a hole too. The consultant was lovely, drew us loads of pictures as it was hard for us to see on the scan.

The hole is very small, and far too low to be operated on. If when DD gets older is causes problems she will need medication. On the 2nd visit it had shrank, and we will have one more visit before she starts school x

elephantpyjamas · 07/01/2022 14:23

@Ponoka7

My niece had the same with her baby. By nearly two the issue had corrected itself. If it hadn't then surgery would have been an option. The surgery has very high success rates. It isn't anything that you've done, just like the parents of disabled children didn't cause their disabilities. That's quite offensive.

The OP didn't suggest anything of the sort, she's having a perfectly natural reaction to some worrying news about her baby. Perhaps you should be asking yourself why on earth would you choose to write such an unkind post, and stop putting words in OP's mouth.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/01/2022 14:25

If you’re lucky enough to be under UCH for your pregnancy, or get referred to GOSH, then you’ll be in fantastic hands. Can’t speak for other hospitals but these two are amazing.

Theunamedcat · 07/01/2022 14:29

Mine had a vsd he is 8 and got discharged last year its healed into an aneurism we have been warned he is higher risk of sepsis he has reccomend he never gets tattoos or piercings

But he is fine

Motherofcats007 · 07/01/2022 14:41

I was born with two holes in my heart (late 80s). Had a load of medication but no surgery, holes closed when I was 6 and only minor thing is I have a very minor aortic regurgitation now which doesn’t impact on my day to day life

Frlrlrubert · 07/01/2022 17:04

My best friend through school had a hole in her heart and was operated on when young, early eighties so she had a cool scar from her neck to her belly button, operations are probably done differently now.

She was an absolutely normal child otherwise.

We're not as close as we were but she's happy, healthy, intelligent, and has children of her own.

Freecuthbert · 07/01/2022 17:07

My brother had a hole in his heart throughout my mum's pregnancy but it had closed up by the time he was born and he's always been in perfect health! One of my friends has a small hole in her heart as an adult and lives a happy, healthy full life.

AmethystMoonShine · 07/01/2022 17:11

Yes my daughter had two holes in her heart, only discovered as they were doing the checks to let us go home after the birth. I was in bits, absolutely devastated (obvs. Hormonal post birth too!) I thought my world was falling apart. However, they both healed by themselves by the time she was one. Had a few scans to keep check on it in her first year. Apparently it’s quite common. I can totally understand your worry though. I think it was a combination of shock and utter lack of control that hit me. Big hugs and I dearly hope all be well for you.

Offmyfence · 07/01/2022 17:13

My son had a hole in his heart, the cardiologist said that will be fine by the time he goes to school, it was.

Original poster

Feelingabitscared · 07/01/2022 20:38

Honestly thank you all so much for taking the time to share your experiences with me. It has made me feel 100 times better and like this is something we can deal with, and will hopefully one day just be a part of my baby’s life story. I cannot thank you all enough for your reassuring words.

OP posts:

TakeMe2Insanity · 07/01/2022 20:48

Not me, but MIL has! So Dh 45, had a hole in his heart as baby. Full surgery and has never had any heart problems since - thank god!

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 07/01/2022 20:52

Two of my dd’s have. It doesn’t affect them in any way at all. One had a few difficulties feeding as a baby and gained weight slowly. That soon resolved and the other never had ay issue at all. The hole hasn’t closed for either of them but they won’t need surgery. They get checked by the cardiologist every 2 years. Started out every 6 weeks as babies then appointments got further and further apart.

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 07/01/2022 20:54

The pair of them just get excited about going to clinic and getting an ultrasound picture of their heart to show their teachers. They are 10 and 7.

Tiredmummyof3 · 07/01/2022 21:01

Me! I was born with VSD and value problems. I'm 45 and had 2 open heart surgeries. I've got 3 children and live life to the full! Sending big hugs. My daughter has inherited it and she is almost 14 and you can't tell the difference between her and her brothers who don't have the same problem x

Gastonimo · 07/01/2022 21:14

My son was born with a hole in his heart. Picked up because he had an episode of SVT at 10 days old which wasn't related. He was monitored under cardiology for several years and it closed up on its own by about the age of 18 months.
Try not to worry. I was told by the doctors that it was fairly common.

Fandangofran · 07/01/2022 21:36

Yes me too.

I was born with a VSD - the doctors said I might need surgery or it might close on its own.

I didint need surgery and it never closed - it's still there and can be heard on a stethoscope but it doesn't really affect me. I was discharged from cardiology at age 6.

I'm 42, a mother of 3 and perfectly normal (whatever that is) - in fact I can only think of 3 issues it's caused over my while life.

I've always been small - and I'm only 4 foot 11 now.
I get called for my flu jab every year
I was not allowed to give blood.

None of those are too much of a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Jokie · 07/01/2022 21:38

I have a VSD and was born with it. It was checked at birth and very regularly until i was 18 and it was signed off.

Many VSDs close by themselves with growth

thegcatsmother · 07/01/2022 21:55

My strapping 26 yo ds has a VSD, which has all but closed itself over. He had to have a catheter test at just over a year old to see what the VSD was doing, and it was allowed to close on its own.

specialsauce · 07/01/2022 21:59

My son was born with a large VSD, it wasn't picked up on any scans, we found out 2/3 days after he was born, it was picked up by an amazing junior doctor who was just doing some routine checks around the PICU ward.
He was quite poorly (but at home for 12 weeks) then he had heart surgery to fix it all at 4 months. Baby heart surgery is absolutely amazing nowadays, 30 years ago many children suffering this may not have survived. The Evelina ward was full of babies (earplugs were my most essential item!!) undergoing heart surgery and full of mums from all walks of life - the doctors and surgeons assured VSD's were not uncommon, there was nothing we had done wrong as mums. Mending VSD's is well practiced surgery nowadays. The mums I've stayed in touch with all have healthy young tweens now - my DS is 12 and fighting fit. He has checks ups every couple of years now and everything is always absolutely great - no problens whatsoever.
Although very worrying for you to find this out at 20 weeks, I do think it's good that you have some time to mentally prepare for having a baby that may need special care and attention until their heart is fixed. I found out suddenly and unexpectedly and it was all too much to take in as I knew absolutely nothing about what it may mean and I feared the worst, it was very traumatic being in the dark like that with a 3 days old baby.

Ozanj · 07/01/2022 22:01

@Feelingabitscared

Hi, just looking for some reassurance. 20wk scan yesterday showed a suspected VSD, have to wait until Monday to have it confirmed by someone more senior at a different hospital. I’m trying not to worry but just wondered if anyone has been through the same and everything has been okay (or not)? I’d appreciate anyone’s experience of this, we didn’t really get given any information and I’m trying not to Google too much but my mind is racing. I feel so guilty, I feel like it must have been something I did or didn’t do. Said I’d put it out of my mind until Monday but I just can’t think about anything else.

My DN’s cardiologist said a lot of babies are born with some kind of hole in the heart and it eventually closes up or is so minor it doesn’t need to be. They will only seek treatment in certain situations where they think the risks of surgery are outweighed the benefits.

egglette · 07/01/2022 22:03

A family member had one and it only came to light when they were in their 60s! Had a really active life before that, was super fit when younger, so it need not be an issue. Had surgery and all was well

Hunderland · 07/01/2022 22:09

My friend has this, I remember her telling me when we were kids at school.

She's just turned 50

Brenna24 · 07/01/2022 22:09

My sister was diagnosed with a VSD after birth when they heard a heart murmer. They didn't know if she would need surgery or not. She is now 35, it closed up enough on its own to not need surgery and even although it isn't completely gone she is healthy, has a baby, has lived abroad in a quite exotic location and even got cleared by cardiology as fit to climb Kilimanjaro. You wouldn't know to look at her at all.

sofakingexhausted · 07/01/2022 22:10

My little one had one, it wouldn't have been found had he not had another condition that goes hand in hand with heart issues. So they scanned it at a day old and found a hole. He had a scan at 12 weeks where he said it was still there and another at a year and it had closed. They were mainly worried about his because he had to have quite a few general anaesthetics in the first few months but the heart specialist said 90% of them close by their first birthday and his had so we are fine.

NeverChange · 07/01/2022 22:13

A relative of mine was also born with a hoe iher heart.

Had 6 month check ups until she was 12 and annually until 16. She's now 35 and no issues.

It's still there, never closed but never grew in size when her heart did.

She had some extra observations when she was pregnant (twice) but it wasn't causing issues. Neither of her kids have it.

It's natural to be concerned but I think it often rectifies itself so try not to worry. You did zero wrong btw it's just one of those random things.

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