WWYD? Echocardiogram

[heroineinahalfshell]

I'm 23 weeks, 1st pregnancy, and was referred to a consultant because I have a minor heart murmur that was diagnosed about 12 yrs ago. The consultant has referred me for an echocardiogram, to get a "baseline". I've never had any symptoms or issues with my murmur.

The echo is taking place at my local hospital, in the "Cardiology and Lung Function" department. I'm starting to get really anxious about going to the echo, because of possible exposure to covid-19 in the hospital. As far as I know, i'm really low risk for complications from my murmur, and the scan is just precautionary. So I really don't know if I'm putting myself at more risk, going into the hospital, than the minor risk that not having the echo represents.

What would you do? Which is the greater risk? My DH thinks I shouldn't go, and I'm not sure whether he's right.

I would still go, they would have cancelled it if it wasn’t important to check as heart issues can affect what type of birth you require. Just make sure you take hand sanotozer with you and touch as little as possible, and then wash your clothes when you get home.

You go! A heart problem in pregnancy puts you at risk of death.

I would go. Pregnancy is hard work for your body and I often feel like my heart is working double time.

The consultant thinks the test is important enough to be done despite the coronavirus situation. I’d go with that.

I had the same, a minor mummur and they sent me for an echo. I'd go, because we both know it's probably nothing, but labour places an enormous strain on your heart and if it was a structural issue, that needs identifying beforehand. I know the worry of CV is real, but an echo won't take long and hospitals are not ravaged by CV - patients are kept in controlled areas etc. X

You’d be more at risk if you developed further heart problems in pregnancy than from catching covid in the hospital. Please go, it’s so important to be checked.

That dept is not going to be the same place as where the sick Covid inpatients are, if that's what's worrying you. Please go, even ordinarily minor heart problems can become worse in pregnancy.

Thanks everyone for the messages. You're right, they wouldn't refer me if it wasn't an important check. I think its the name of the dept that scared me - that and my DH is very much taking the "mountain out of a molehill" approach to my referral. I will go - thanks also @Maincat, its good to know I'm not the only one!