Fetal echocardiography

Fetal echocardiography is a test that is done while the baby is still in the womb. It is most often done during the second trimester of pregnancy. This is when a woman is about 18 to 24 weeks pregnant. The procedure is similar to that of a pregnancy ultrasound . You will lie down for the procedure. The test can be…

No special preparation is needed for this test.

The conducting gel may feel slightly cold and wet. You will not feel the ultrasound waves.

This test is done to detect a heart problem before the baby is born. It can provide a more detailed image of the baby's heart than a regular pregnancy ultrasound. The test can show: Blood flow through the heart Heart rhythm Structures of the baby's heart The test may be done if: A parent, sibling or other close family…

The echocardiogram finds no problems in the unborn baby's heart.

Abnormal results may be due to: A problem with the way the baby's heart has formed ( congenital heart disease ) A problem with the way the baby's heart works Heart rhythm disturbances ( arrhythmias ) The test may need to be repeated.

There are no known risks to the mother or unborn baby.

Some heart defects cannot be seen before birth, even with fetal echocardiography. These include small holes in the heart or mild valve problems. Also, because it may not be possible to see every part of the large blood vessels leading out of the baby's heart, problems in this area may go undetected. It may still be…

Donofrio MT, Moon-Grady AJ, Hornberger LK, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of fetal cardiac disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014;129(21):2183-2242. PMID: 24763516 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24763516/ . Guthrie J, Hagen-Ansert SL. Fetal echocardiography: congenital…