So my OB said that it's standard for people who got pregnant through IVF to see a pediatric cardiologist.
I don't remember my RE mentioning that going through IVF increases the risk of our babies having congenital heart abnormalities.
I'm wondering how common it is within the IVF (conceived) community.
If you did IVF, did your OB suggest that you see a pediatric cardiologist?
My appt was yesterday and both babies' hearts are looking good and healthy.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
No. It's not something my RE or OB ever mentioned. Baby's heart looked good at the anatomy scan.
pear / 1580 posts
No, strange! Maybe it's a brand new thing? I did have to do something cardiac related, though. At the NT scan, I got a borderline result, so among the million follow-up tests I could've done, the least invasive/most informative seemed like the echocardiogram, so I got that done and everything came back normal. LO is healthy.
clementine / 750 posts
Never heard of it being automatic and I have a lot of friends who have done IVF since I'm on an IF board. My daughter and baby to be are IUI babies. This baby I'm carrying now had something weird seen on a growth scan ultrasound and I got sent to a pediatric cardiologist it turned out to be nothing wrong. I wonder if it's more a twin thing perhaps.
pear / 1770 posts
@kayakgirl73: Yeah, I've never heard of this either, and wondered if it might be more of a twin thing!
pear / 1750 posts
No cardiologist, but I was treated as high risk due to IVF. The Maternal Fetal medicine docs did an echocardiogram. They said it was due to heart abnormalities found in some IVF pregnancies. They also induced me a week early due to IVF.
persimmon / 1420 posts
I've also never heard of this. The only thing I had to do extra was more ultrasounds. My doc didn't even make me start coming in more often earlier, as many twin mamas have to.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@kayakgirl73: @ms.line: Hmm, I think there is someone in my due date month that went through IVF and she mentioned going to see a pediatric cardiologist. Oh, I think she's having a singleton.
I guess it depends on the OB office. Yeah, weird.
eggplant / 11716 posts
My OB offered a "more intense" scan at MFM, specifically to look for heart issues because of my age (just turned 35). He said it's a brand new recommendation, but also said if it were him and he had my history (good NT scan, good anatomy scan, good Maternity21 results) that he wouldn't bother with it.
So I didn't go.
persimmon / 1483 posts
So I wanted to update my response - I had my early anatomy scan today and the tech reminded me to schedule my fetal echo when I scheduled my 20 week appointment. When I asked why, she explained that in the past year or so, it's become the standard recommendation for all IVF pregnancies to have a fetal echo. I think that explains why most of us with toddlers were so confused!
grape / 91 posts
Hi there! I'm pregnant with IVF and my practice recommended we get a carido ultrasound at around 22 weeks. Really they just spent like an extra 15 minutes looking at the heart. They said some research says that compared to normal babies (chance of like .5% heart defects) IVF babies are 1.5% chance. So it's not a huge difference but enough that I think they just like to be extra cautious? My doctor really downplayed it to me and said it seems to be more for research purposes? They said they want to know in case there is a problem they can have a cardiologist present at birth.
I didn't mind because it was an extra chance for me to see baby and also peace of mind that the heart looks good! 
kiwi / 578 posts
I can't contribute my own personal experience but will say that our friends had an IVF baby (now 2 1/2 years old) and this was not done. They ended up taking baby to the doctor within the first week home due to some symptoms and ended up in emergency heart surgery that day. Then again around 7 months. All looks good now and they have regular check ups. Maybe IVF related, maybe not. But knowing their story, I'm glad it's becoming the norm to look into it!
nectarine / 2765 posts
I did, my twins are 18months so perhaps it is something that's been more common recently. The dr had explained it was recommended for IVF pregnancies due to increased risks like someone earlier mentioned.
pear / 1786 posts
I had to see an MFM specialist for a detailed ultrasound to check for heart abnormalities.
pea / 19 posts
no, my doctor hasn't mentioned anything about this to me at all. My last appointment they said the heartbeat was at 179 and right on target to where it should be. Like @NATALIE403 i wouldn't be against them looking at the heart a little longer to give me a peace of mind !
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@Mermaidri: Are you still seeing your RE or are you being seen by an OB?
I graduated from my RE at about 9 weeks and my OB said they like to look at the babies' hearts at 22 weeks.
pomegranate / 3904 posts
My best friend is pregnant with an ivf baby, and she just had to do the heart scan yesterday at 24 weeks
pea / 19 posts
@BLUESTRIPED BEE: i have been going to my OB since 7 weeks! thank you for letting me know about the 20 week scan that makes me feel alot better! i just knew i had a wk12/wk18/wk24 week ultrasounds, i'm going to bring it up to her next week
pear / 1531 posts
Just to follow up, I met with my OB today who also said I will do a 20 week echocardiagram due to new protocols.
apple seed / 1 posts
I already had 1 DO via IVF and my doctor said it’s standard for IVF patients to see a fetal cardiologist, I am pregnant for the 2nd time around, also through IVF and I will see the fetal cardiologist this time as well.
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