Hole in Heart

Hi All

When our daughter P was born, she scored very low on the Apgar scale, 3 or 4 if I remember correctly, she was blue, not breathing properly and we were scared. She came back to normal after a little while and still had blue hands and feet even after we had moved onto the ward (ESH). I still do not know to this day if this was caused by her heart or by the Pethidine or by something else.

So we enjoyed our first day with our daughter, shattered like you are, but ecstatic too.

When the Paediatrician came round, which was later than expected, this is when all the concern started. The Paediatrician called for the Registrar to listen to her heart as a second opinion. We were told not to worry, but she has a small hole in her heart which is making the blood "whoosh" around the heart, rather than be smooth and quiet flow of blood. So an ECG and heart X-ray were ordered.

The X-ray was done there and then, again we were told not to worry the hole was so small. We brought Phoebe home and had to go back the next day to get the ECG. Again we were told, not to worry.

We had a check up at 6 months, they used an ultrasound machine to see the heart and a stethoscope to listen, again the hole was still there, if it didn't improve we were told she could have a coil fitted through her veins (no open heart surgery) which would block the hole. We had another check-up when she was 1 year old and were told that the hole could not actually be heard anymore, but could still be seen on the Ultrasound machine. Again, we are told not to worry, it should close up over the next couple of years.

Bearing in mind, this is quite common, the heart doesn't quite close before

birth and the normal closure time is 2-3 weeks.

We have another check-up when she is 2, next May/June time. The Doctors come from the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and hold clinics at East Surrey Hospital.

The final update.

We are very lucky, on Phoebe's last check-up her heart showed no problems and the doctors said the hole has healed itself, so she is a normal little girl again - after 2+ years. The hole should close on its own in 2-3 weeks in normal conditions.