Fetal Echo? (X-post in special needs)

[hollytheteacher]

Has anyone here had a fetal echo?

My 3 year old was born with Tetralogy of Fallot (congenital heart defect) that was not picked up on his 20 week u/s so we did not find out unti he was a day old. We are told we could have up to a 1 in 20 chance of having another "cardiac kid" and have been referred to getting a fetal echo.

My son has heart echo's all the time (well less now since he's doing so well after his open heart operation). So i've seen the procedure done on him...i just can't picture exaclty how it will work on me being a big ol' pregnant lady how they will focus in on the fetus's heart.

So if you have had one before can you tell me a little about it? My midwife/obgyn practice scheduled it for me at the hopsital so I never actually got to speak to anyone at the hospital about what to expect and i'm a little nervous.

What should i know? What questions should I ask??

[MaryLang]

My 4 year old is a heart kid too. She was diagnosed at our 20wk u/s (with AVSD, corrected by open heart, and now has a sub aortic membrane they're watching), so I had echos with her. And also with this new baby, who happens to be healthy.
A fetal echo is almost exactly a more high tech u/s. Think Level II u/s with all the focus on the heart.
And there's nothing extra you need to know. You usually don't need to drink extra water or anything. And as far as questions, same as with any u/s, the tech may not be able to tell you much. They'll pass the info to a card. and he/she will give you the "alls clear" or tell you if they spot an issue.
Good luck
Let us know how it goes

[BusyMumof5]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

Has anyone here had a fetal echo?

My 3 year old was born with Tetralogy of Fallot (congenital heart defect) that was not picked up on his 20 week u/s so we did not find out unti he was a day old. We are told we could have up to a 1 in 20 chance of having another "cardiac kid" and have been referred to getting a fetal echo.

My son has heart echo's all the time (well less now since he's doing so well after his open heart operation). So i've seen the procedure done on him...i just can't picture exaclty how it will work on me being a big ol' pregnant lady how they will focus in on the fetus's heart.

So if you have had one before can you tell me a little about it? My midwife/obgyn practice scheduled it for me at the hopsital so I never actually got to speak to anyone at the hospital about what to expect and i'm a little nervous.

What should i know? What questions should I ask??

I've had a foetal echo - It was for Twins.
It's pretty much the same as normal scans in pregnancy - only it's done by a Cardiologist and they zoom right into the heart to see the chambers of the babies heart.
NOT always clear and readable but he had no problem doing mine.
I wish you the VERY best of luck - I went for mine with the husband and 3 children (I had no one to look after our children) and the hospital said they couldn't allow them all into the room - I broke down in front of a huge waiting room, I had convinced myself something was wrong with the babies and said I didn't want to be alone - Finally, They let the children just outside the door - kept the door open and my husband was stood in the doorway.

You have a right to be nervous I completely understand - I went through so many different emotions - If you need to ask anything else -- ask away xxx

[palmgal]

I had one done, I have type 1 diabetes and high blood sugar in early pregnancy can lead to heart troubles. I was quick and easy, the cardiologist who attended was very kind and told me everything she saw right away. There were no problems with the heart, so it went very smoothly. My husband was there, as were my 2 children (neither were supposed to be there, one had the day off pre-school unexpectedly due to a death on their staff, and I had no idea that DD's school dwould be closed for primary elections). My kids were being pretty loud, and I was worred at times that the doctor could not hear what she was trying to hear, but she said they were fine.

[hollytheteacher]

Just thought I should update....

My baby has a PERFECT heart

My dh and I were so worried after having a 13 week m/c, then a heart baby, we almost don't know what to expect for a "normal" pregnancy and a "normal" baby! (ds was wisked away at 20 minutes old to go to the NICU for 5 days and then at 3 months we traveled down to Boston for his open heart surgery and another 10 day hosptial stay).

[kwilki8]

That's fantastic news!

[Yuba_River]

Great news! Congratulations!!!

[the janet]

Since I'm AMA and didn't have the amnio done, the birthing center recommended I do a fetal echo today, at 32 weeks.

The tech did the usual measurements (apparently the baby is nearly 2 weeks ahead in size??) and checked my placenta's placement, then she was done. I asked about the fetal echo. She said she didn't know anything about it...and besides, it was too late in the pregnancy to do it.

Huh?

I didn't really demand to have it done, only b/c its sole purpose was to see what the likelihood is of the baby having Down's syndrome. Still...if it was too late, why did the midwives recommend it get done now?