Fetal Echocardiogram

Your doctor may ask you to drink plenty of fluids beforehand, especially if the test is being done early in pregnancy. A full bladder can help create clearer images of the baby's heart.  

The test is similar to the routine OB ultrasounds you get throughout pregnancy. You will lie on an exam table on your back. A sonographer, a healthcare professional trained in ultrasound imaging, will apply a warm gel to your abdomen. The gel helps conduct sound waves. The sonographer will then gently press a transducer, a handheld device that emits sound waves, against your abdomen. The transducer transmits sound waves through your abdomen to your baby. The sound waves bounce off the baby's heart and internal organs and travel back to the transducer. A computer uses these sound waves to create images of your baby's heart on a video screen.

The sonographer may press on your abdomen to get a better view of the baby's heart. The sonographer may also ask you to shift positions slightly during the test. The entire procedure usually takes 45 to 60 minutes, but it can take longer depending on the position of the baby and the ease of obtaining clear images.

The gel will be wiped off your abdomen. A doctor, usually a fetal cardiologist, will review the images from the fetal echocardiogram and discuss the results with you during the same visit. If the echocardiogram reveals a heart defect, the doctor will discuss the findings, what effects it may have on the baby before and after the birth, treatment options and overall outcomes for the baby in future with you.  
 
Fetal echocardiograms are commonly repeated to follow the development of the heart and blood flow as the fetus grows if there are any abnormalities seen on the initial echo. Some cardiac conditions can progress during pregnancy and regularly checking on the unborn baby’s blood flow can help guide care recommendations at birth.