Accurately diagnosing a fetal heart condition is vital to ensuring your baby receives comprehensive care before and after birth. If a routine ultrasound by your obstetrician (OB) reveals a possible problem with your baby’s heart, you’ll need additional tests.

Our specialized ultrasound technicians use advanced scanning technology that can detect most congenital heart defects and structural abnormalities. Our fetal cardiologists use these detailed images to make a precise diagnosis.

Types of Fetal Heart Diagnostic Testing We Offer

To accurately diagnose heart defects during pregnancy, we use noninvasive heart imaging tests, including:

• Fetal echocardiogram (echo): A fetal echo is an ultrasound that creates detailed images of your baby’s heart. It can show the heart structure, blood flow through the heart and irregular heart rhythms. 
• Fetal cardiac MRI: This test uses high-intensity magnets to produce detailed images of your baby’s heart. You may have this scan in addition to a fetal echo to obtain further detailed images of your baby’s heart.
• Fetal MRI: This test uses high-intensity magnets to produce detailed images of other organs in your baby’s body that are challenging to evaluate on ultrasound, including their brain and lungs. You may have this scan in addition to a fetal echo if your baby has multiple health conditions. 

Who Should Get a Fetal Heart Scan

For most pregnancies, routine ultrasounds at your OB’s office provide enough information about your baby’s development but if tests show a potential heart defect, you’ll need advanced fetal heart scans.

Other reasons your doctor may request an advanced fetal heart scan include:

• Advanced maternal age (over 35 years)
• Chromosomal or genetic anomaly (revealed through amniocentesis or other genetic testing)
• Family history of congenital heart disease 
• History of maternal diabetes or autoimmune disease (like lupus)
• Inability to see the baby’s heart structures well on traditional ultrasound
• If you received in vitro fertilization
• Medication exposure during pregnancy
• Other health conditions in the baby that may indicate increased risk for a heart defect 
• Multiple births (pregnant with two or more babies) 

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