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2nd Trimester
Echogenic focus (white spot) on heart.... our results
At our 18 week ultrasound, we were told (and saw for ourselves) that our baby has an "echogenic focus" or a bright white spot on her heart. Doc told us that it was a soft marker for down syndrome, but that she had no other markers, so our chances of down's were only slightly increased from normal. She said "not to worry", that it would probably go away on it's own, and we would go in for another u/s in 4 weeks.
So, I spent the next 4 weeks worrying and googling and it was horrible. We had our re-scan u/s at 22 weeks, and though the rest of her was fine, the spot was still there. I felt like throwing up, we still didn't really understand what it could mean for her, and the whole thing was so scary. So Doc says she wants to be sure that nothing is wrong with baby's heart, that the spot had something to do with chordae tendonae, and if there was a defect, that could screw up her heart valves. She sent us to Children's Hospital Central California, which is a very high tech facility (the largest children's hospital north of San Diego) for a fetal echocardiogram. We were told, once again, not to worry. Yeah, right.
It took one week to get an appointment at the cardiology testing center at the hospital, and we had our visit yesterday. The ultrasound tech spent about 45 minutes looking and listening to baby's heart, taking pictures and video from all angles. She said that she didn't see anything abnormal, but techs are not doctors. Then the pediatric cardiologist came in and looked at all the pictures and videos, and told us that the chordae was completely normal and didn't have anything to do with anything, and that the baby's heart is a perfect little ticker. Case closed, we'll forward the results to your doctor.
What a relief!!! So the whole point posting this is just in hoping that if your ultrasound showed white spots and you don't understand what they're saying and you're scared and it's all very overwhelming... just know that it just might be ok, after all. It was impossible to stay totally calm in the 5 weeks since we found out about the spot, but I spent 5 weeks worrying about absolutely nothing. Keep your chin up if you got the "scary news" like we did!!
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Re: Echogenic focus (white spot) on heart.... our results
After our echo appt, I told hubby that from now on, the last 5 minutes of our Dr appts I would just go sit in the waiting room, and HE could talk to the doc, just the 2 of them, about anything that we "don't need to worry about" lol ! I can't take any more "not worrying"!
My daughter was born with 2 very small holes in her heart. They were found when she was 4 days old with an echo (my DH has a heart murmur, so my doc paid close attention with our DD).....the cardiologist mention that roughly 50% of babies are born with tiny holes in their hearts, most go undetected and close up anywhere from 6 months to 5 years........ anyway, she is 21 months now, and completly fine and great, as far as we know the hole have closed up (we haven't done another echo to confirm). Good luck!
thx for posting this...at my 13 week NT Scan i was also told and shown the white spot on my babys heart. My ob said not to worry about it that its usually nothing serious and will probably go away on its own. I go at 20 wks for an ultrasound and theyre gonna check it out. Im trying not to worry about it...i know theres absolutly nothing i can do anyway....
BFP 1/4/2014 EDD September 14 2014