Heart defect at 20 week scan

[lookatthemoon]

I had my anomaly scan today (almost 22 weeks). Really normal pregnancy so far and scan went really well up to a point. Everything measuring for dates, good heartbeat, lots of movement, organs all normal etc.

We got to the heart last (sonographer had trouble getting a good view earlier in the scan). Suddenly she told me she was worried. She couldn't see 4 heart chambers, definitely there is nothing separating the top two chambers and in addition to this she said it seemed like there were other 'complications'.

I am seeing a fetal medicine specialist on Tuesday morn. Sonographer obvs couldn't make a diagnosis but used lots of words like 'serious' and 'very worried'.

Does anyone have any hopeful stories for me? I'm realistic but just need to survive until Tuesday when I can find out exactly what is going on. Am just terrified that it will be so bad that the pregnancy won't be viable. So hard because baby looked so healthy otherwise and is still kicking away inside me.

Give me hope/comfort?

Op sorry it wasn't great news but it sounds like the medics are confident and your little one will go on to meet all their milestones. Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy

Thanks for the update OP. Just to share that a friend of mine had a little girl who had a severe heart defect picked up in the scan. Similarly she had a operation at 3 days and then again at 6 months. She's two now and will have another one when she outgrows her current valve. It's obviously been a long a stressful journey for her parents but she is a completely normal little girl, full of life and energy. It's amazing that with the technology we have now that these things can be caught so early and the Dr's can be 100% prepared to deal with it the moment your baby it born. Sending you lots of luck and calm thoughts for the coming months, you're baby is lucky to have you.

Thanks again everyone for sharing stories, it does help. Not because I like hearing about other people's misery but it is good to think about how other parents go through similar and make it out the other side.

Unbornmortificado - 10 weeks - wow - he must have been really early! Glad that you have made it home and are managing. I hope baby continues to thrive. Hopefully this time next year things will be more than just manageable for both of us!

My daughters heart condition(tetralogy of fallot) wasn’t picked up at the antenatal scan, however she’s now a healthy 13 year old after getting a repair done.

Hi OP.
I have 2 examples in my family, very different.

1. when pregnant with dd2 I was living overseas. The sonographer told me she had a major heart defect, to have an abortion and try again. Somewhat shell shocked I returned to UK. I had scans every week from when I returned (week 21 ish) through to her birth. She had ECG and MRI scan when born. She is fine. No defect, no probelms, totally nothing at all.

1. my dear neice was born with a severely deformed heart, which wasn't picked up on scans. She is a little star, amazing kid. Life hasn't been easy, 2 open heart surgeries and she had restricted lifestyle, but she is amazing. She is now 10 and in July had a heart transplant. When I saw her in August she was bouncing away on a trampoline - amazing. It has been a rollercoaster for family, but lots of love and happiness on the way. Her two siblings have no heart problems.

I'm pleased you left that room carrying hope. One tiny step at a time. For now, your yet to be born little person is in the safest place possible.

Lookat if your on FB it might be worth having a look at the uk premature support group, it covers both early and babies who are full term but need NICU stays as well.

"Parents of preemies support uk" it's called.

Lookatthemoon fantastic positive attitude from you, I really all goes well for your little one. We are going through the same just now and these stories are helping me see it's not always so bad.

I know this is a late reply. But did everything work out? How did it go? Im going through the exact same thing now. I just seen the specialist this morning and was not giving good news. I was given the most difficult decision to make, to termanite . They said my son has a hole in heart and multiple heart defects, multiple problems with the heart. They told me that my baby is safe as of now but once i give birth the baby might now make it. And if do, i have to look forward to plenty surgeries plus more, was not expecting any of this. I went in this morning with an opened mind and willing to except hole in heart because in most cases it closes up on its on. But this is bad. But im dealing with it.