https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:09:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-expect-at-pediatric-heart-doctor-visit#post-2015256 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:40:23 +0000 Tanjowen 2015256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petunia354: @ScarletBegonia: @Mae: @yoursilverlining: @jhd: Thank you everyone. I am relieved to hear the actual procedure is short and painless, because I was going, "You want my son to sit still for 2 hours? HA!" </p> <p>I appreciate the information on what to expect and will be armed with snacks and many Elmo videos on my phone for sure! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-expect-at-pediatric-heart-doctor-visit#post-2014976 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:18:00 +0000 jhd 2014976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have much to add that PPs haven't already said, but in our office they let me hold LO in my lap while they do the ultrasounds. And our tech turns on a movie for LOs to watch, but mine wasn't interested! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-expect-at-pediatric-heart-doctor-visit#post-2014967 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:14:06 +0000 yoursilverlining 2014967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO has seen a pediatric heart specialist since she was born and has had several EKGs and ultrasounds of her heart at the office. </p> <p>Echo what pp have said about the sticky electrodes they will put on your LO – they do not hurt to remove from their skin, but they also have these wipes they can use if the stickers stick more than they should. The stickers are also kid-friendly with stuff like animals or Dora or whatever on them, so my LO actually really likes getting EKGs done, because she loves the "stickers" :grin: </p> <p>The EKG itself takes less than 1 minute, and the set-up only takes a few minutes. Taking the node things off takes less than 1 minute. </p> <p>I think our first visit was about 2 hours total, because of the time spent getting everything set up, done, reviewed by the doctor, etc. LO also had a longer ultrasound on her heart the first time too, where the doctor spent a long time walking us through everything and showing us on the ultrasound monitor exactly what he was talking about.</p> <p>For us, the doctor also brought in printed out diagrams and then with a pen drew on and labeled everything that was LO’s issues and again just walked us slowly through everything so we understood. Those conversations were the bulk of the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-expect-at-pediatric-heart-doctor-visit#post-2014885 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:31:27 +0000 Mae 2014885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had this and it was not really a big deal, just a long morning. They put lots of sticky electrode things on them (but they are not sticky like a bandaid, did NOT seem to hurt her to pull them off at all, which was my big concern) and you hold them and they monitor their heart waves or something. For us that was inconclusive so they had to do an ultrasound of her heart which meant laying on a bed with heated blankets and doing the gel stuff and doing an u/s just like an abdominal one except on the chest. She did not like laying on her back that long and was really cranky about it (took 15 min maybe) but the tech was really nice. Then the cardiologist came in to read the u/s. For us it turned out to be absolutely nothing, no big deal. Really glad we had it done so that we don't have to worry about it.</p> <p>ETA: it was a long morning only bc we had to wait a lot between seeing people. The actual procedures were quick (5 min for ekg maybe, 15 for u/s) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-expect-at-pediatric-heart-doctor-visit#post-2014850 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:13:28 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2014850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was 7 months &amp; had a cardiac ultrasound &amp; ekg, and a consult with the cardiologist - all up we were only there probably 20 minutes! They were quick &amp; very comfortable dealing with squirmy babies. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-expect-at-pediatric-heart-doctor-visit#post-2014772 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 09:25:29 +0000 petunia354 2014772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not quite the same situation or at the same age but DS had an EKG and ultrasound of his heart when he was less than a year, maybe 3 or 4 months. They definitely took their time and were very thorough so our appointment easily took an hour. Obviously, entertaining an infant is much different than a 1 year old so I don't have much advice there. I'd say bring a couple small toys or a comfort item. Also, don't stress. They deal with kids all day every day so they have their own tricks that they've found useful to calm and keep kids entertained!</p> <p>Good luck, I hope you get good news! Fingers crossed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-expect-at-pediatric-heart-doctor-visit#post-2014690 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 08:20:10 +0000 Tanjowen 2014690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO has had a murmur since birth, and the standard practice of our pediatrician is to refer to a pediatric heart specialist if it does not go away by 12 months. Well, it hasn't gone away, and we have an appointment to see a specialist in February. </p> <p>I know he is going to have an EKG done and they told me to not put lotion on his chest that morning, but said the appointment would take 2(?!) hours. Has anyone gone through this before and can tell me what to expect and tips to keep LO calm?</p> <p>I am thankfully not too concerned and think this is just a minor heart murmur, but they have to check on it, especially since DH has a family history of heart problems. </p>