Feeling anxious after fetal echo... Suspicion of VSD

[Spaghettinetti]

I'm looking for a bit of support/information/advice/stories from people in the same boat etc...I had my anomaly scan just before Christmas and no abnormalities were detected. Since then I have been enjoying my pregnancy and started to get excited (before then I was worried due to an earlier miscarriage and difficulty conceiving). However, as my DH has a congenital heart defect, a fetal echo was arranged for us, which we attended yesterday. Whilst the baby's heart seems to be functioning well, the sonographer said that there was an indication that there may be a small VSD. At the time, I listened to what the consultant said, but irrational brain has taken over and I've started to worry/panic/cry. I really don't know what to expect and am frightened by the prospect of what's to come...

Sorry to hear you've had a worrying scan. What is a vsd? We had potential heart problem picked up at 20wk scan but got all clear at specialist scan a week later. That interim weekend was awful with the what ifs though, so I feel for you. What have they said re follow up etc? Ring up for reassurance or advice if you're unclear on the details. In my experience, they're very understanding. Tomorrow is Friday and you don't want to be left with this over the weekend when the department is closed.

Sending hugs and a hand to hold x

Hi Misty, thanks for your response; the hugs are much appreciated! I'm glad that everything turned out to be OK at your echo. A VSD is a ventrical septum defect, basically a hole in the membrane between the two ventricles. We've been told that it is very small, if there is one at all, but will need to go back in six weeks for another echo. I understand this can happen to anyone and that there are far worse things that could go wrong, it's just a bit scary. I very well might take your advice and call the hospital...

My son had a vsd among other heart defects and my niece had either a vsd or asd can't remember. What usually happens is that they monitor it as often they close up on their own as the baby grows. In my son and niece's case they didn't close up so needed surgery. My son had other heart issues so needed surgery anyways. In both cases they healed well and are perfectly healthy and normal. The docs expect them to live a normal and full lives. My son still sees a cardiologist to keep tabs on his heart.
It is something to be monitored, but they are common and can be treated. Deep breath. It will be ok.

Agree with ginger. VSDs are the most common structural heart problems and generally very small ones don't cause too many problems and often sort themselves out. Sometimes the larger ones need an operation to fix, usually at a few months old once baby has grown a bit the outcomes are very good, with children living a full and normal life. Hope that helps reassure you a bit. British heart foundation and children's heart federation both have good info on their web sites.

DD due march has a complete AVSD. Pretty much as bad as it gets. Not much between left and right, one valve only between top and bottom. The picture the cardiologist drew us was shocking. BUT, before we really had time to digest this, he impressed on us that in terms of heart surgery, this was something fairly routine and they did the repairs all the time. There's a 95% success rate and a great long term outlook.
It was like talking to a kwik fit fitter about a new exhaust on the car! "well yeah, we'll pop it in, jack it up, whip the old one off, stick the new one on, job done!" Obviously it'll be more complicated than that, but everyone I've spoken to is very blasé!
This is a shock for you, but don't panic. as others have said, these things can repair themselves in utero and if they don't, repair is routine. The issue you may have sounds like a very small issue in the grand scheme of things. Keep busy, DO NOT GOOGLE STUFF and wait and see what the next scan brings. You've still got the same LO in there, whatever happens they will be just fine, relax and enjoy your pg. x

My son had TGA where the arteries going to the body and the lungs were reversed. It wasn't picked up until he was born. He had to have surgery at 3 wks old at Southampton. He's a happy active chap at 2.6.
Hugs to you all dealing with this.