Heart Check and NICE Guidelines

[Hoop1234]

Hi Everyone

I'm new here ! I have a question to ask. I am 17 weeks pregnant and have been told that I need to go for a heart check (in myself or baby, I do not know). My midwife says it is part of the NICE Guidelines and it is routinly done for all normal pregnancies.
Last week I went to see my GP for something else and I asked him about it. He looked perplexed. Has anyone had this done and if so what does it entail.

I hope someone can help
Hoop1234

No-one has even listened to my heart since I became pregnant - does make sense as pregnancy puts it under pressure. My MIL had 2 children without probs even though her serious congenital heart condition had not been diagnosed by that stage!

I seem to remember that's about the stage they try to listen to your baby's heart. If so, don't worry, it's done with a doppler which is w small handheld machine with a probe that's gently rubbed over your bump with gel on it (like an ultrasound scan). The box like bit enables you to hear baby's heartbeat, your own & sometimes the pulse from the placenta/umbilical cord. It's usually fairly quick though can take a while if it's tricky to find baby's heartbeat if the baby is perhaps in an awkward position or moving lots. Never heard of mum's heart being checked as a standard thing in normal pregnancies. Perhaps midwife's wording was a little clumsy. Easily done when it's something so normal and routine to you.

Thanks for the replies and the reassurance. My MW wrote in my notes that I have refused to see my GP for a heart check. My GP has no idea what she is on about and the MW has listened to my baby's heartbeat- it is fast and powerful as it should be. I have looked in the NICE Guidelines and it is not in there !

I've had this check with my GP at 20 weeks. Basically it's just a check of your heart and your lungs (not the baby's) to make sure all is well. It takes about 5 mins. Not sure if it's in the NICE guidelines but my midwife told me to make the appointment. HTH x

I actually think she might be talking about a scan for the baby. I think it's becoming routine to have a detailed cardiac scan (baby) when you have your 20 week one (or soon after). I know I've got one.
Why didn't she explain? If it was a Doppler she would have done that herself.

How very strange Vivienne. I think then perhaps the best thing to do is call the midwife or perhaps another midwife (you should have been given the number), tell them what it says in the notes and that neither you nor the GP understand what it's referring to. I'd ask for them to amend the notes too (if you do then have the heart test) in case it has any future implications. I mean, you cam hardly refuse a test if the person doing it doesn't know about it. Also, I've recently read through the NICE guidelines for antenatal care in normal pregnancies in healthy women - I saw no mention of any such heart test of yourself.