Heart defects at fetal medicine scan.

[Feild123]

Hi…

After some advice & hopefully reassurance. At my 20 week scan, some anomalies were picked up with babies heart. I was referred to local fetal medicine for an echo & was given the all clear bar a query that the right side of the heart was marginally bigger than the left. We were referred for a 2nd opinion at LWH and unfortunately 4 Defects were seen, complete AVSD & common valve, left ventricle smaller than right, and aortic valve slender. We are going back in 6 weeks time to see if anything changes (we are hoping the left side continues to grow with baby) and have been given a whole Host of options with baby needing some form of surgery when born. My screening results were low risk (1:23,000) although we have been offered amino to rule out further complications. Totally unsure of what to do & would love to hear from anyone else in a similar position.

Hi op

I have been in your position....not nice is it

20w scan found multiple holes
Very very small right side pumping chamber
Pulmonary stenosis (tight tube to lung in laymans terms!)

Dd follows the pathway for hrhs which is half a heart but she actually has 3/4 of a heart and a little bit more really as the 4th chamber just a bit small

She had stent input age 5months
Stent increased (for tight tube)
Open heart surgey at 15mo for a bypass

Shes thriving and is 6 now. Very very normal

Its a massive shock. You feel like the rug has been pulled from under you.

My dd also has no additional needs chromosomes were checked/genetic testing and all ok. Its just one of those things

I declined amnio personally. My screening numbers were simmilar to yours.

I was also offered the option to not continue with the pregnancy. Personally this wasnt an option for me.

When dd was born she was taken straight to nicu but came back to me a day later all ok.

My dd is a healthy happy normal girl who happens to have a special scar and check ups every 6-12 months now!

Thank you for replying! It is just such a worry & after being given the all clear we are totally shocked by the news yesterday. So glad to hear a positive story & I’m glad that was the case for you! We are keeping everything crossed in 6 weeks time baby heart will have continued to grow (we just need the LV to not be any smaller!) either outcome baby will definitely need medication at birth and surgery & they will repair the aortic arch & valve first and return to the AVSD 4-6 months (they seemed less concerned about this part than the other).

All the best! X