Help finding fetal cardiac scanning

[lilyjane]

I am 28 weeks pregnant.Early scans showed fetal bradycardia although 20 week scan showed no abnormalities. However, I have a close relative who had a major childhood heart condition and would like a fetal cardiac scan as I understand the 20 week scan is limited in what it can detect. I am going to see my consultant in a couple of weeks time but in case he does not think I have the criteria for a further scan I was wondering if anyone knew where we could get one done privately? We live in Glagow but would travel further afield for one.Many thanks

I live in London so can't help on names/numbers, but you can I am sure find out online where Glasgow fetal cardiologists practice on NHS and call them re their private practices. We had cardiac scans with DS in London at Great Ormond Street and know that everyone we saw there also practiced privately.

It should also be offered by bigger Fetal Medicine Units so push the consultant as much as you can for an NHS scan. They are usually cautious regarding anything to do with heart issues so I am sure they will be helpful and reassuring.

I had mine at London at the Harris birthright trust at 20 and 22 weeks pregnant. My dd1 was born with a heart defect. They were brilliant.

Lilyjane - where's your consultant based? I'm in Glasgow also and had a fairly detailed fetal heart scan performed at 18 weeks by my consultant. She was with the Fetal Medicine Unit that used to be based in Queen Mothers but was transferred over to Southern General when QM closed in January. As far as I know, the Fetal Medicine Unit would be responsible for any babies with suspected or possible heart issues. I have SLE & Sjogrens - antibodies which are known to sometimes cross the placenta and cause congenital heart block and can happen at any time during the pregnancy right up through birth. Thus our being seen through the Fetal Medicine unit. I have weekly listen-ins to baby's heart and every 2 weeks I have scans with a doppler ultrasound of the cord blood flow and baby's heart performed at SG. If your consultant isn't based in the Southern, perhaps you could ask for a referral to the fetal eval unit at Southern for a check there?

BTW - with DD, I had similar scans through the unit when it was up at Queen Mothers and they wheeled her across the hallway to Yorkhill for an ECG the day after she was born to be given the final peace of mind. I've been told that they'll be able to do the ECG for this baby at SG when he comes along in July.

Good Luck!