Fetal Echo...leaky pulmonary valve

FutureMrsW9

So I had my fetal echo today and the doc said that baby has a leaky pulmonary valve.  She said that this is something that's very common and most people actually have it and it's nothing to worry about, BUT they usually don't see it on fetal scans.  It's usually there, but they just don't see it.  She also said that our pictures were some of the clearest pictures that she's seen in years and she suspects that that could be the reason why they were able to see the leak, if baby wasn't so cooperative (the tech told me I should be an ultrasound model because my pics were so good...yay??) then they may not have even seen it, but obviously they don't have another one of our scans to compare it to.  Anyway, I'm not super worried, but how can you not help but be at least a little worried when the doc tells you something like this and wants you to come back in a month??  On top of that DH couldn't come with me today of all days, so it was extra sucky.  Has anyone else been told anything like this?

AJC&Maggie

@futureMrs:
Why did baby have an echo??

BBColt78

I agree with ThreeWords. Technology is just getting so good, they are finding all kinds of things. It's amazing what they can find at those level 2s.

Do they have you going back for another fetal echo? I'm getting another at 30 weeks. AMA and IVF both reasons for it.

FutureMrsW9

@AJC&Maggie said:

@futureMrs: Why did baby have an echo??

They send all IVF babies for echos now according to my OB.  Though, the neonatologist at my A/S said that she disagrees with it and there are a lot more categories of people, such as obese women (her example), who are at much higher risk for having babies with cardiac defects who are not sent...so who knows.  That said, since my OB ordered it, they had to send me.

FutureMrsW9

@ThoseThreeWords said:

I'm sorry.  It stinks to have something else to worry about.  

I wonder if the technology has just gotten so good that they are catching insignificant things that otherwise would have been undetected.

My a/s this week found a left ventricular echogenic focus.  The doctor said not to worry about it unless something showed up on the echo.  So, now I have to worry about it for 2-4 weeks for the echo (they still haven't called me back to schedule it).

I just looked that up and couldn't they just tell you that it's a calcium deposit that's super common to find on prenatal ultrasounds.  I also wonder if doctors these days are TOO conservative and bring you back for insignificant things just because they are able to see them now.  Uuuugh it really is just something else to make us worry!

FutureMrsW9

@BBColt78 said:

I agree with ThreeWords. Technology is just getting so good, they are finding all kinds of things. It's amazing what they can find at those level 2s.

Do they have you going back for another fetal echo? I'm getting another at 30 weeks. AMA and IVF both reasons for it.

Yes, I have to go back in 4 weeks (so around 27-28 weeks).  Which makes no sense because I was originally told that the echo needed to be done before 24 weeks because after that the baby gets too big and bones get harder to see through so things are harder to detect.  Getting way too many opinions from way too many doctors sometimes isn't the best thing as I'm learning.

krdesi

I'm sorry you have something else to worry about. I hope that it's like the doctor said and nothing really needs to be stressed about!

I am glad I pushed getting a fetal echo though...the new doctors were going to brush it off, even though I was told it was recommended by my RE and a previous MFM!

FutureMrsW9

So we interviewed a pediatrician this weekend, and obviously I had to bring this up....she didn't even blink and eye and said that pretty much all babies have leaky valves before birth, so she was surprised they would even see it as being an issue.  This made me feel a lot better!  I think all docs nowadays just have to cover their butts because people are so lawsuit-happy.

ETA: The pediatrician also went through IVF twice to conceive and she was kind "meh" about the fetal echo thing for IVF babies.  She said it gets to a point where you're just getting way too many scans when you have IVF babies and it's just not necessary.

becomingmommyagain

Dont worry to much.  Once your LO is here they'll have you consult with a pediatric cardiologist.  

My oldest had a leaky valve and by time he was 7-8 the murmur was no longer audible and he was cleared for an echo every 5 years.  

He'll be 18 in a few months and is about to go to MEPS for military entrance.  He's not had to return to cardiology since he was 12 years old.