[raviguleria]

My niece is pregnant & is in the 24th week
As per the doctors attending on my niece they have informed us that since the fetus has a hole in the heart we should go in for abortion.
Based on my research on the internet I have concluded that the hole in the heart can not be detected in the fetus and that abortion is not recommended n the 24th week of pregnancy.
Can some one be kind enough to corroborate the above
This is urgent please. The doctor is asking for decision mmediately

[ISneezeFunny]

A hole in the heart "ASD or VSD" can often be treated and the child could grow to adulthood and live a normal life...

I'm unsure about how the doctor has diagnosed this in the 24th week... someone in labor could give more insight to this, however, I'm assuming that the doc recommended abortion due to the congenital defect somehow affecting the mother.

[J_9]

ASD (atrial septal defect) and VSD (ventricular septal defect) are usually detected after birth. You see, the blood flow of the fetus is exactly the opposite of ours. At the exact moment of birth, the blood flow reverses and these "defects" are supposed to close up. Sometimes they don't. When they don't it is not always a life threatening situation, but rather a wait and see approach. Sometimes surgery to correct the defect is necessary, yet other times plain old time will heal the defects.

Now, there are other defects that are much more serious, such as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Tetraology of Fallot, and Transposition of the Great Arteries, just to name 3, that are much more serious and life threatening.

Without knowing the exact defect you are speaking of, it is impossible to give the advice you are searching for.

Is it possible for you to get the name of the defect the doctor has diagnosed the infant with so that we can help you better?

[ISneezeFunny]

::shakes head::

... tell me I was too tired to realize that ASD and VSD occurs because the ductus doesn't close... AFTER birth.

... ::hits forehead::

Now we know how well I did on the mcat...

[J_9]

Yes, Sneezy, then we have Patent Ductus Arteriosis, Tricuspid Atresia, Truncus Arteriosis, Pulmonary Valvular Stenosis, Interrupted Aortic Arch - Ventricular Septic Defect, Coarctation, and a few more... but without the proper terminology from the OP, there is little we can help with.

[J_9]

Oh, yeah, I forgot, this is a GREAT website for all of the defects.

Aortic Stenosis, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Used it to study for my neonatal and pediatric rotation as well as my NCLEX.

[raviguleria]

Thanka lot. I will check but today the abortion process is starting

[rosemcs]

It's amazing that a dr. would recommend an abortion when there are so many heart babies saved everyday in the hospital.

My daughter (17 months. Now) has Tetraology of Fallot (a very major heart defect). I found out a few weeks before she was born. Just in time to be at a hospital where they can care for her. She was born a bright and beautiful little girl. They did the heart surgeries necessary w/in the first 6 months.

Now, she is walking and hitting all milestones. She has a lot of energy for a heart that is so deformed. You could never tell. There were always 20 heart babies on the hospital floor when I was there... some of them transplants. Each had their own story. Each baby was so lovely. Most lead normal lives after their initial surgeries.

It baffles me to think that a person is any less of a person, if, through, no fault of their own, their heart is not perfect.

My daughter is the joy of my life. She is my goal. I have a purpose.