What is a fetal echocardiogram?
A fetal echocardiogram is a detailed ultrasound examination of a baby's heart while the baby is still in the womb. It is done through the mother's abdomen, exactly like a routine pregnancy scan, but focused entirely on the heart and performed by a paediatric cardiologist.
A routine anomaly scan looks at the whole baby and gives a basic view of the heart. A fetal echo looks only at the heart, in far more detail — the four chambers, the valves, the great vessels, the rhythm and the flow of blood through each one.
When it is done
Usually between 18 and 24 weeks of pregnancy, when the heart is developed enough to see clearly and there is still time to plan. In some situations it can be done earlier or repeated later in pregnancy.
Who should have one
Why it matters
Knowing before birth changes what happens after it. If a baby has a serious heart condition, delivery can be planned at a hospital with paediatric cardiac facilities, the neonatal team can be ready in the delivery room, and treatment can begin within hours instead of days.
It also gives parents time — to understand the condition, to ask questions, to meet the doctor who will treat their child, and to prepare rather than be ambushed.
Many findings are reassuring. A good number of fetal echos are done because of a risk factor and show a completely normal heart.
What happens during the scan
You lie on a couch, gel is applied to your abdomen, and the probe is moved across it. It takes 30 to 45 minutes because the baby has to be in a workable position and the heart is very small. There is no radiation and no risk to you or the baby.