Slurring heart valve in 5 month old baby...info anyone?

[RachelPross]

DD is 24 weeks old this week. 2 weeks ago we were told she had an innocent neart murmur as she had a cold and that we should take her back today to get her checked.
On further investigation our GP has said that she in fact has a slurring heart valve and is referring us to see a specialist.
Am in full panic mode as don't know what this means. He says I shouldn't worry and that she'd grow out of but am not so inclined to belive that now as he said not to worry last time and look what happened!!!

Rachel, asked DH who is a GP about this. He says not to worry. Most murmurs are innocent in babies. If your DD isn't gaining weight, has no appetite or is short of breath then things need to be done urgently. Your GP is probably asking for the consultant's reassurance. If the consultant is not sure he/she will order an echocardiogram of DD's heart (ultrasound scan).

Good luck with the appointment. HTH

I've had a heart murmur all my life, it's 'innocent' and seems to be so- I used to run 5 miles a day on average at university (not any more but nohting to do with my heart!) Hope your DD is OK.

Thanks both for your help. DD is gaining weight no problem and has a v healthy appetite. I wouldn't say she was short of breath but she has been a bit wheezy and chesty since she was born. We're trying not to worry too much but it's hard.

hi rachel
My dd was diagnosed with heart murmur by GP at 6 wk check - she also had poor weight gain and we were referred to cardiologist for further investigation
Initially this involved an ECG - echocardiogram to check heart rhythms, an echo scan to check blood flow/valves etc and heart function
And a chest xray
My dd had what was called a radiating systolic murmur
Upon seeing cardiologist it was confirmed as a pulmonary valve stenosis - or valve narrowing and was not the cause of dd's poor weight gain as they had first thought.
AS it has turned out although at first it seemed like a bad PVS aged 4 dd has now almost outgrown it.
Gaining weight and being healthy with good colour is a very top sign for your dd And early diagnosis or reassurance is very important.
We also shat ourselves between being told of it and waiting for the appt.
Do try to relax I know how terrifying it is
Where are you btw, are you likely to be referred to your local hospital?

We're in Llanelli, South Wales. We'll be referred to the hospital where I had DD, about 20 mins away by car. Which is lucky. We did briefly consider going private but the paediatric cardiologists down here don't do private treatment, so we'd have to go BUPA which could end up costing a fortune if DD does in fact need any treatment. So it looks like we just sit tight and wait till the appointment arrives for after xmas. Was hoping to get it over with before xmas so we didn't have it hanging over us all that time.

Rachel - my dd has significant heart problems including 3 leaky valves.

Some children have innocent (no structural problems) murmurs and others have murmurs that appear when the child is poorly. As the others have said good weight gain is a really good sign.

It's good that you've been referred as a precaution but try not to worry too much (I know, there's not much chance of that!). Your dd will have an ECG, ECHO (ultrasound scan of the heart) and probably a chest x-ray.

Hopefully you'll get the all clear but if not come and say hello on the Heartline message board here . There's a large Welsh contingent !Also there's good information on the Children's Heart Federation website.