Why is a fetal echocardiography necessary?

Know about your baby's heart health well in advance

Fetal echocardiography is a detailed examination of the foetal heart and the connecting vessels done usually between 20 or 22 weeks. Fetal heart defects are the most common form of birth defects in newborn babies. This test is done to check heart problems in an early stage to plan the pregnancy and the management of the newborn accordingly. Not all women would have to under take this scan.

What is the aim of the scan:

• To get a detailed status of the foetal heart health. 'This also assesses the risk of Down's syndrome because many babies who are at a risk also have heart abnormalities,' says Dr Shantala Vadeyar, consultant obstetrician, fetal & maternal medicine, specialist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.
• To rule out any concerns related to foetal heart health. 'If your anomaly scan has shown any concern regarding the foetal heart anomaly or rhythm abnormality your doctor would ask you to do this scan to be sure,' says Dr Vadeyar.

Who should go for the scan: Expectant mothers whose anomaly scan has shown some concerns about the foetal heart health.

You may also like to read:

• Ultrasounds during pregnancy - all you need to know
• Viability scan why is it important
• The importance of NT scan
• What is anomaly scan
• What is fetal well being scan?

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