Fetal Heart Attack?

Updated on April 13, 2015
M.H. asks from Anaheim, CA
20 answers

Hi all,

I have run into a difficult situation and want to see if any of you or know of anyone who has experienced this before. I appreciate any input! I am about 22 wks pregnant with my 2nd child. I had the sequential screening ultrasound and everything looked fabulous. At my routine appt with my OB 2 wks ago, she heard irregular heartbeat out of nowhere so she sent me back to have another detailed ultrasound done. They found something abnormal in the heart. The heart seems to function very well but it appears one little part of the heart wall was damaged which causing the abnormal heart rythm. There were 4 doctors presented during my ultrasound and they don't seem to know what's going on...including a baby cardiologist. They said it is very rare that this happens and they don't know what's going to happen. They will just have to keep monitoring the baby and will see what happens...which doesn't sound very good to me. The cardiologist said the worse case scenario is that the baby will need a heart transplant later on (after delivery). My husband and I are so stressed and very emotional about this. We read up everything on the internet but dont' seem to find anything that matches with our situation. BTW, the doctor also thought that maybe the baby had a mini heart attack which caused damage to the heart wall because everything looked so good 2 wks prior ??? I am still in shock about this but I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
MH

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your well wishes and prayers. I am very touched by all your good thoughts for me and my family and sharing with me your personal stories. I definitely would like to get a second opinion as well.
I will stay strong and will keep you all posted!

Thanks all!
M.

More Answers

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L.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi M.,
I don't know where you are located but I would highly recommend Loma Linda's Maternal Fetal Medicine. These are GREAT doctors that specialize in this sort of thing. Loma Linda is also great for NICU. When my son was there a few months ago for some surgeries there was a one month old in the bed next to him. During the ultrasound they realized her heart was inside out. They did not expect the baby to live through delivery. After several surgeries and a great team of Dr.'s the little girl was healthy and about to be released from the hospital. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hey M....

I have not been in your shoes, which I'm sure is not what you wanted to hear, but I wanted to send my positive thoughts your way. I am sure that your baby will be just fine. :)

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am so sorry. I know being pregnant that is the last thing you want to hear. My bothers little girl was born with four small holes in her heart. She just turned one and all holes filled in. Maybe you could find another pediactric heart Dr. Its always nice to hear things from more than one person. Just to ask more questions, or see if they have heard anything like that. Hang in there! The next weeks ahead will be stressful knowing what you know. But take good care of yourself. I know a lot of people will be praying for you and your baby.J.

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M.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just have faith and think positive and get 2nd-3rd-4th opinions. 15 years ago at a little over a month pregnant I was told something was wrong and that I needed to terminate the pregnancy I saw a different doctor same hospital/group a few weeks later and they said everthing was fine not sure what they could have seen. At 4 months I had placenta previa and was told to take it easy. Then at 6 months I had a convulsion which I had never had in my life and when I went to the emergency room they said something was wrong with the baby after 2 seperate visits I was told my baby had no insides (lung-heart-organs) everything was a glob they could not expain why even though I was being seen every 2 weeks because I was high risk and was fine less then 2 weeks before. I was told I would deliver at 6 months and the baby would not survive. At this point I was done with doctors but my husband said we need explanations and off we went to another doctor which said our baby had developed a cyst in her chest that had pushed everything together but it is all there and that he had only seem it once before and the other doctors never had that the only danger was that I was going into labor and a baby would have enough problems being a preemie at 6 months and would never be strong enough to have that surgery. I was put on complete bedrest to try to get to 7 months 8 months would be a miracle from God well 19 days after my due date I had to be induced because she refused to come, she had her surgery. Anybody that sees her can't believe what she has been through because she has had 2 other surgeries at 2 & 13 for pectus excavatum which they say is a fluke and has nothing to do with her cyst but she is here today ready to turn 15 and is my miracle. I did alot of praying in my heart. Best of luck to you and please don't give up until you have exhausted all options.

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L.T.

answers from Reno on

Dear M., I have never heard of this before. I'm not sure if you are religious or not, but I will pray for your new baby that he/she will be healed by our Lord. God Bless.

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A.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi M.,

I don't have an answer for you, but an idea. My husband was born with a "missing wall" of the heart, which in his case is called tetralogy of fallot. Many years ago, with a mom that was trying to hide her pregnancy and not have the luxury of regular check-ups we have today, they didn't suspect anything until the baby was born. He was, what they call, a blue baby. Not enough oxygen would get into his blood. These days they operate on this condition in the first month of life. Just something to look into, let me know if you need to learn more about this example.

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L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hello M.,

I am so sorry that you are having these worries now. I just want to say that if you start on amino fatty acids right away and take then every day, it can help him repair his heart. You can take Cod Liver Oil (it comes lemon flavored) or a vegan blend made from flax seed oil, borage oil, and evening primrose oil.

Get ppenty of rest, eat well, and treat yourself well.

XO
Linda

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

M.,

My prayers are with you. I have no advice but I pray that they will be able to help your baby, that God will put the right people in your path to make this all work out. Remember God gave you this baby because he knew you would be the one to take care of it best. Please keep us posted with updates. May God watch over your family and send miracle making people your way. J.

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T.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just a thought; when I was pregnant I frequently visited an ultrasound website called thefetus.net (because I was completely paranoid that something would go wrong w/ my baby and wanted to know everything about everything that could possibly go wrong... I know, cuckoo) and it's very interesting that when something is detected via ultrasound that appears to be of concern, such as an organ that has incurred damage or has not developed quite as it should, by the time the baby is born it has appeared to have corrected itself (or, 'healed' itself) and the problem that was quite clearly detected in utero at some point is not present at birth... fetuses and infants have amazing abilities to do this ~ I certainly hope for the best with yours. Please let us know the outcome if you can.
Oh - and I second LL University School of Medicine's obstetrical services; they are first rate.

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

I can't help you with any medical advice. But, I can tell you to stay off the internet for medical stuff. You can find anything you want to hear-and not all of it is correct. I did not have the same symptoms w/ my 3rd baby-but, there were heart fears, for her, everything is fine. Try not to stress (easier said than done). you aren't helping anyone worrying about it. this is 100% out of your hands-follow dr's advice. eat healthy and relax. I hope this all turns out okay.

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T.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

M.,
I just want to let you know I prayed for you guys and the baby. I believe in God's power to heal. Look at how miraculous childbearing is in the first place :)
I haven't been through what you are going through. But I have been through horrible health issues the past few years, where 7 different doctors had 7 different opinions,and still no concrete diagnosis. I was also told it would be very hard for my husband and I to conceive, and we are about to deliver baby #3 any day, with each baby having been conceived on the first try. Only God knows what is really going on sometimes and what His plan is for us.
I do want to encourage you, as others have, that this may work itself out while the baby is in the womb.
Also, just an aside, my grandmother was born with a hole in her heart, and lived to be 89 before they discovered it on her deathbed in the hospital, and she was healthy as anything until the day she died pretty much.
Praying for the peace and healing only the Lord can provide in this situation :)
Tara

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V.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

turn to alternative medicine. there are many modalities out there that deal with problems on the holistic level. most fitting to the situations are Ayurveda and homeopathy. if you are skeptics - laugh, but give it a try.
Good Luck
V.

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L.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

Dear M.,
I am sorry to hear about your situation. I can advise on one thing that always helps me when I go though something....it is easier said than done. DO NOT WORRY!
My middle son had a brain surgery two years ago. He is totally fine. Most of the things we worry about never happen. I don't know where your faith level is but God can handle all of our situations- He is a BIG God whatever happens physically, emotionally, financially etc.... at home at work etc...
One thing about experts is they are all human. My thought for you is to think good thoughts and rest. There is a saying "As a man thinketh so he is..... " for your health and the health of your baby do your best to think good thoughts.
Hope this helps.
All my best,
L.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I haven't had experience with this situation exactly, but I do have a friend who had a heart transplant soon after birth, and now he is a very healthy 32 year old man. He also had an irregular heart beat in utero, and now he's just fine! My sis in law also had a heart problem when she was born, and had open heart surgery at the age of 2, and now is a healthy 34 year old woman. So I know that even if they have a rocky start, they can live a healthy life afterward. I know your main concern is for the baby and its health, but try to not worry. I know, easier said than done, right? Hang in there, and find a support group of friends and family to help you stay relatively calm through this difficult time.

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A.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

M.,
My heart goes out to you, with my love and concern! How difficult for you and your husband to have to worry for your little one for the rest of your pregnancy. Know that doctors have much more knowledge about little ones and their hearts than they did when my children were little. We spent time in fear for our littlest one, and know of your great fear and concern.

Know that we who read the messages at Mamasource care, and want to know more. Share with us your little one's progress, and how things work for your family. Depend on your God. We will pray for you and your little one. God loves you and your child. He will bless you.

A.

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M.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

i havent been through this, but i have been told that my daughter would have down syndrome..then my placenta was too small so she wasnt growing..at 27 weeks i had a non stress test and my babies heart rate was dropping so they told me to go immediately to the hospital and they kept me. they did ultrasounds and 2 days later said she had better survival outside than in. they delivered her.she was 1 lb 7 oz wuth 10% survival rate. the cord was already splitting.various times throughout her NICU stay they said she was not going to make it but GOD pulled her through. I know its hard and I dont know exactly what you are going through but i know its hard but just hold on to GOD .build your faith...read hebrews....and get ready for the ride.its not easy but our GOD is faithful.My baby is 15 mos old and healthy , another baby born with a hole in her heart was going in for surgery and they did an ultrasound and it was gone.God healed her! My babies bleeding in her brain stopped! there is hope with GOD. just pray and cling to him. i will pray for you..get groups to pray..you watch it will be ok..ignore the statistics...and internet..just focus on GOD..the world says something different but what does GOD say.."if 2 or more agree in his name it will be done"put your hands on your belly and pray for your baby as much as you can. and hang on to your marrieage..it put alot of stress on my marriage but when it settled down we are doing good. first thing first is god and remember you are not alone..put him first and everything falls in place.my heart goes out to you...believe me i know sister!But I also know By his stripes we are healed!!

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K.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi M., WOW....I'm so sorry to hear about your babies condition. I don't have an answer for you, but I will be praying that your Precious Angel will come to know what a Miracle is. I pray that God will give you piece and understanding during this hard time.

Don't give up hope, Miracles do happen.

Take care and be strong for your Angel and lean on friends to help support you during this time.

K. :)

I'm

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Doctors can do amazing miraculous things! So please have faith! When my brother was born, he had two holes in his heart. It was 1962 and they hadn't developed much for heart procedures or done much for babies. They said there was nothing they could do and sent him home with my mom with the expectation that he would die shortly after. After a couple of years, doctors were amazed and said that they might possibly be able to help him IF he lived to age 6. He did and they operated. He was THE youngest patient to have that particular surgery at the time (it's now fairly routine). He is now 44 years old! It was a miracle. And miracles in the medical field happen all the time. Just wait until the birth and see what happens, maybe the heart will be okay after all. Blessings!

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L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Get a second opinion! Find the best pediatric cardiologist in the area at the best hospital. Often, they can give you medicine to help with the baby's heart. I know MANY babies born with heart defects that wound up having heart surgery as children and are now parents today. Good luck.

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V.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I have experienced this and my son passed away the doctor never saw it until the autopsy report came in..... He had a heart attack well in my womb.... They never saw anything like this very rare case... Please text me ###-###-#### V.

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