Congenital Heart Disease In Pregnancy And The Role Of Fetal Echo

Congenital heart defect is the most common type of birth defect with which a baby has been born. It can affect the septum, heart valves, arteries and veins of the baby in question and affect the blood flow.

The causes for the CHD in baby can include medical conditions in mom such as diabetes, lupus, rubella, being obese and phenylketonuria. It can also be due to the changes in the genes or chromosomes. Fetus with certain genetic and chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome, turner syndrome, noonan syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome and alagille syndrome are also most likely to have CHD. Lifestyle habit such as smoking, drinking and talking certain medications during pregnancy can also causes CHD

Diagnosis

Severe CHD can be diagnosed during pregnancy or soon after birth; other can only be detected when the child gets older. During pregnancy a test called fetal echo is done by an experienced specialist to check the baby’s heart. It takes an image of baby in the wom, this test can be done as early as 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. The test is recommended for the following causes:

Maternal conditions

• Diabetes
• Anticonvulsant intake
• Prev child with CHD
• Infections : parvovirus, Rubella, Coxsackie
• Autoimmune disease: Anti Rho/La positive

Fetal conditions

• Increased Nuchal thickness
• Abnormal ducts venosus
• Abnormal fetal cardiac screening
• Major extracadiac  abnormality
• Abnormal fetal karyotype
• Hydrops
• Fetal dysrthythhmia

Most of the fetal echo results tend to be normal or show a sight detect which can be corrected after the child has been born. This is a huge advantage since it gives time for the you prepare beforehand and consultwith the cardiologist if necessary.