What is a fetal echocardiogram?
A fetal echocardiogram is a special type of ultrasound that creates images and videos of your unborn baby’s heart.
Perinatal Diagnostic Center employs a specialist physician to provide and interpret fetal echocardiograms. The physician looks for signs of congenital defects in the walls and valves of your baby’s heart and monitors their blood flow.
Why would I need a fetal echocardiogram?
In many cases, a standard fetal ultrasound shows enough information about your baby’s heart. However, Dr. Jadali may recommend a fetal echocardiogram if your ultrasound didn’t provide enough information or if it revealed an abnormal heartbeat. Other reasons you might need a fetal echocardiogram include:
- A family history of heart disease or congenital heart problems
- Fetal screening that shows an increased risk for a heart abnormality
- Medical conditions including Type 1 diabetes or lupus
- Maternal drug or alcohol use
If the Perinatal Diagnostic Center team feels that there is any risk for heart irregularities, they recommend a fetal echocardiogram to collect more information about your baby’s heart.
What happens during a fetal echocardiogram?
Fetal echocardiograms are noninvasive and only take around 30 minutes. The test is similar to a routine pregnancy ultrasound.
You recline on a table and lift your shirt to expose your belly. Your technician applies a gel to your skin, which helps the sound waves travel through your body and reduces friction so the transducer — a handheld device that directs the ultrasound waves through your body — can glide smoothly over your skin.
As the technician moves the transducer over your abdomen, sound waves move through your body and bounce back off your organs and tissue. The transducer picks up the returning waves, and the echocardiogram machine converts the waves into images or videos.
The fetal echocardiogram specialist at Perinatal Diagnostic Center studies those images and videos of your baby’s heart, examining them for any signs of irregularity.
If your fetal echocardiogram shows any abnormalities, you may need additional testing, and Dr. Jadali refers you to specialists who can treat and manage your baby’s condition both before and after they’re born.
Call Perinatal Diagnostic Center to make an appointment today.
