Fetal Cardiac CareDr. Mridul Agarwal · Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
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Fetal Cardiac CareDr. Mridul Agarwal · Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
Book Appointment
If your previous child was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD), it is completely natural to feel anxious during this pregnancy. That worry is not irrational — it is a caring, thoughtful instinct that helps you take the right proactive steps.
The honest reassurance: A fetal echocardiogram is strongly recommended in this pregnancy. But the most comforting fact is that between 96% and 98% of babies born to families with a previous affected child have completely healthy, normal hearts.
Yes. Not all congenital heart defects carry the same recurrence patterns:
Conditions such as Coarctation of the Aorta, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), or Aortic Stenosis tend to have a slightly higher familial recurrence rate than simple septal defects.
Common conditions like simple Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD) or Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) usually have lower familial recurrence rates closer to 2%.
Bringing your previous child's echocardiogram report, discharge summary, or genetic test results to your consultation helps Dr. Agarwal plan an exact, targeted examination of your baby's heart.
To balance early answers with diagnostic clarity, we offer two scanning timeframes:
For parents experiencing significant anxiety, an early preliminary scan can evaluate major four-chamber symmetry and ruled out major severe malformations early in the second trimester.
This is the definitive examination. At 18–22 weeks, the fetal heart is large enough to clearly assess tiny valve leaflets, the aortic and pulmonary outflow tracts, the ventricular septum, and cardiac Doppler flow.
A finding on fetal echo does not necessarily mean your baby will have the same condition or outcome as your previous child. Congenital heart conditions exist on a wide spectrum — many are minor, self-resolving, or easily corrected.
Most importantly, prenatal detection changes outcomes. Knowing ahead of time allows us to coordinate your delivery in a tertiary medical center like Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where pediatric cardiologists and neonatal intensive care teams are present in the delivery room.
A normal fetal echocardiogram performed by an experienced pediatric cardiologist is profoundly reassuring. While no imaging test can guarantee 100% detection of microscopic changes, it rules out over 95% of significant structural defects and allows you to continue your pregnancy with peaceful confidence.
If your previous child had a congenital heart condition, schedule a comprehensive fetal echo with Dr. Mridul Agarwal at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital or Bedi Ultrasound, Delhi.
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