When your doctor tells you to "do a fetal echo," you might feel a little scared, right? "Oh, is there something wrong with my baby? Why are you asking me to do such a special scan?" You might be thinking one thing after another. But don't worry. This is actually done most of the time to make sure the baby's heart is healthy. Let's talk about this in simple terms today.
What is Fetal Echo?
Simply put, a Fetal Echo is a special ultrasound scan that looks at the heart of your baby in your womb. The full name of a Fetal Echo is Fetal Echocardiogram .
This is mainly to check if the baby has congenital heart disease (CHD) . This means that there are certain defects or problems in the heart that are present from birth. About one in every 100 babies born in the world may have this type of heart problem. The most common of these is a hole in the heart chambers, called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) .
This is just like the other scans you have during pregnancy, except that it focuses only on the structure, function, and blood flow of the baby's heart.
How does this work?
This scan involves placing a small device on your abdomen. This is called a transducer . It sends harmless high-frequency sound waves into the womb. When the waves hit the baby's heart and bounce back, they appear as a clear image on a computer screen.
The most important thing is that this test will not cause any pain or harm to you or your baby. So there is no need to be afraid of this at all.
What happens during this test?
This scan can usually take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to complete. You may be wondering, "Why is it taking so long?" That's because a baby's heart is very complex, and there are many things the doctor needs to check. The time can sometimes vary depending on the baby's position .
Although this scan is performed by a trained ultrasound technician, the images are reviewed and the report is written by a pediatric cardiologist , who has the most in-depth knowledge of the development of a baby's heart in the womb.
Why does a baby do this while still in the womb?
The reason is that about 25% of babies with congenital heart disease, or about one in four, will need medication or surgery within the first year of life. So, identifying this condition early on can help doctors plan the treatment that will be given to the baby after birth.
Do you need to prepare before the test?
While some scans require you to hold your urine , this is not necessary for this Fetal Echo. In fact, since the test can take up to two hours, it may be easier for you to urinate and relax beforehand.
Why is this scan so important?
As we mentioned earlier, this scan can detect congenital heart problems in a baby. Some problems can be very minor, such as a small hole in the heart. But sometimes they can be serious, such as underdevelopment of parts of the heart. The main purpose of this scan is to detect such conditions early.
The table below lists some of the heart conditions that can be detected with this scan. Don't be alarmed by these names, they are just for awareness.
| Some congenital heart disease (CHD) conditions that can be diagnosed |
|---|
| Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) |
| A hole between the heart chambers (Ventricular Septal Defect - VSD) |
| Tetralogy of Fallot |
| Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome |
| Transposition of the Great Arteries |
What happens after the results are received?
After the test is complete, the pediatric cardiologist will meet with you to explain the results. Sometimes, a single test will answer all your questions. Other times, more tests may be needed to further confirm the condition.
Fetal echo tests, which are usually performed around 17 weeks into pregnancy, are very reliable.
If your baby is diagnosed with a heart defect, your doctor will explain the best and worst things that can happen to you and your partner. It's normal to feel sad and scared when you hear this. However, knowing this information will definitely help you plan ahead for after your baby is born.
Sometimes, heart defects can be accompanied by other genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome . Therefore, your doctor may recommend further tests if necessary.
| Other tests that may be needed | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| High-level fetal ultrasound | A more detailed scan that looks for any abnormalities in the baby's other organs. |
| Fetal MRI | A test that looks more deeply at the development of the baby's organs. |
| Genetic counseling | Estimating the probability of developing a certain genetic disease. |
| Amniocentesis | A test that takes a little of the amniotic fluid around the baby and checks the baby's DNA to see if there are any chromosomal and genetic defects. |
Is there any risk in this?
No. This is the best news. Fetal Echocardiogram is a 100% safe test for both you and your baby. It does not carry any significant risks.
But, remember, the real risk is in not doing this test even if a doctor recommends it. Because if you do, you may have to face a sudden complication after the baby is born. Therefore, it is important to follow the doctor's instructions.
Take-Home Message
- Fetal Echo is a completely safe, painless ultrasound scan that looks at the baby's heartbeat.
- This is done to detect early signs of any congenital heart defects (congenital heart disease) in the baby's heart.
- Identifying a problem early is a great help for doctors and parents in planning the necessary treatment after the baby is born.
- If you have any questions, fears, or doubts about this, please discuss them with your doctor without hesitation.
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