PARENT RESOURCES
It’s a big deal.
The 20 week anatomy scan is so much more than finding out what “flavour” of baby you are going to have.
During this scan, your sonographer will be measuring, evaluating, and assessing over 40 different items to ensure that your child is healthy from head-to-literal-toe.
Heart defects are the MOST COMMON type of birth defect, affecting 1 in 100 infants.
If your child has a heart defect, a diagnosis at this scan can be life saving, giving you and your medical team the opportunity to prepare for your child’s birth. Unfortunately, only 50% of all heart defects are detected prenatally.
So what can parents do to increase their odds of receiving a CHD diagnosis if their child has one?
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Wait.
Book your anatomy scan at the correct time; 18-22 weeks gestation is when your baby is large enough for any anomalies to be clearly visible if they are present.
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Download.
Download this pamphlet and take it to your 20 week scan. It contains six, detailed heart scanning points that your sonographer will investigate.
Keep in mind that sonographers legally cannot answer any questions or give you a diagnosis, but these points can help to remind your sonographer to be diligent while examining your fetus’ heart.
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Focus.
Stay quiet during the scan so that your sonographer can focus on getting all of the detailed measurements during the allotted appointment timeframe.
If your child has a congenital heart defect (CHD), know that you are not alone and that it is NOT your fault. Research shows that 80% of all CHD cases in fetuses come from mothers with no risk factors, and only 15-20% of all CHD cases in fetuses are a result of a known genetic condition. Most of the time, heart defects occur for no reason at all.
Know the Signs.
Unfortunately, many infants are sent home with undiagnosed heart conditions. Knowing what signs to look for in your newborn could save their life. Think HEART is an initiative created by the charity, Tiny Tickers. Print off this resource and keep it in your hospital bag, or keep it on your fridge for easy access once you return home.