Babies with Congenital Heart Defects

Many concerned parents have asked me if heart defects can be detected in a baby using an ultrasound or echo. Babies with congenital heart defects can often be diagnosed before they are born. This enables the doctors to further examine the defect and closely monitor the child. The doctors plan the delivery and ensure a good transition to the necessary care after the birth of babies with congenital heart defects. Sometimes babies with congenital heart defects can also be candidates for in utero treatment. 

Can a heart defect be detected early in pregnancy? Yes, if the necessary tests are done. This can be between 16 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, mothers-to-be undergo a routine screening ultrasound. There are also babies with congenital heart defects who are diagnosed as early as 14 weeks in utero.

Ultrasounds in the womb are called fetal ultrasounds and performed in pregnant mommies to detect heart defects. Babies with congenital heart defects can be saved when detecting these defects early. 

If the unborn baby has known risk factors, there are many cardiology programs at hospitals that will carefully examine the baby‘s heart.

Babies with congenital heart defects are born daily in the U.S. You can read about them in my newest book, “Matters of the Heart,” a book about real-life stories of congenital heart defect (CHD) families. They talk about how CHD affected their pasts, presents and futures. Living with babies with congenital heart defects changes lives. 

I think it is time to prepare families by educating them about the statistics and the possible risk of having babies with congenital heart defects being born. 

Want to learn more about babies with congenital heart defects? Get your copy of Matters of the Heart today!