MFM: Fetal Echo question

persephonerose

We normally do not see a MFM. However, my OB is sending us to have a Fetal Echo done on the twins. He does not suspect anything is wrong but that IVF twins have a slightly higher risk of heart defects and he wants to have them checked just in case. We go on Monday but I was just wondering if anyone here had one done before.

My question is more about the procedure. When I made the appointment they did not tell me what to expect. Is it internal/external ultrasound, or does it depend on how the babies are positioned? Do they just look at their hearts or do they look at anything else?

Rannndi

I actually had a fetal echo done with my girls.  Mine is because Twin A has a single umbilical artery which comes with a slightly higher risk of a heart defect.  The fetal echo was done just like an external ultrasound.  I was able to see more than just the girls' hearts because of them trying to get clear images, so they'd zoom in and zoom out in order to get the angles they needed.  However, they are most certainly looking for any issues with their hearts, so that is what is focused on.  Mine took a little over a half hour, and they did it for both babies.

persephonerose

@Rannndi Thanks for answering! My previous U/s they have not been able to get clear images because the babies like to lay on top of each other. So I'm just glad for another peek to make sure they are ok in there. 

Rannndi

persephonerose said:

@Rannndi Thanks for answering! My previous U/s they have not been able to get clear images because the babies like to lay on top of each other. So I'm just glad for another peek to make sure they are ok in there. 

You'll definitely get that  They try really heart with the fetal echo to get the images they need.  With mine, the pediatric cardiologist sat right next to the ultrasound tech and checked out what he needed to see and asked her to flip to different views.  As the girls got more difficult with certain views, he even stepped in to do the ultrasound himself.  They're definitely making sure everything is especially good with their little hearts for that

JenyB6

My MFM does one after the anatomy scan. It is an external ultrasound and they really focus in on the heart looking at all aspects of it seeing if there are any holes or anything alarming.