A congenital heart defect is a common condition present at birth that affects how a baby’s heart is made and works. Heart defects can vary from mild (a small hole in the heart) to severe (missing parts of the heart).
In the U.S., heart defects affect nearly 1% of births, or about 40,000 babies, each year. About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect has a critical heart defect. Babies with critical heart defects need surgery or other procedures in the first year of life.
Most congenital heart conditions affect individuals from childhood through adulthood.
Florida Newborn Screening
An important first step in new parenthood is to make sure your baby has all parts of the newborn screening testing completed with all results delivered. Early detection and treatment of health issues can help your baby grow up healthier.
Causes
The causes of heart defects among most babies are unknown. Some babies have heart defects because of changes in their individual genes or chromosomes. A combination of genes, behaviors, and our environment may increase the risk for developing a heart defect. But we don’t fully understand how these factors might work together to cause heart defects.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms for heart defects depend on the type and severity of the particular defect. Some defects might have few or no signs or symptoms. Others might cause a baby to have the following symptoms:
- Blue-tinted nails or lips
- Fast or troubled breathing
- Tiredness when feeding
- Sleepiness
Screening
Some heart defects can be found during pregnancy using a special type of ultrasound called a fetal echocardiogram. Other heart defects aren’t detected until birth or later in life, during childhood or adulthood. If a health care provider suspects a defect, the baby can get several tests (such as an echocardiogram) to confirm the diagnosis.
After birth, newborn screening for critical heart defects can help identify babies whose heart defects were not detected during pregnancy. Screening newborns for heart defects enables them to be treated early and may prevent other health complications or early death.
Risk Factors
While the causes are not completely known, we have learned about factors that might increase the risk for heart defects:
- Certain conditions a mother has, like pre-existing diabetes or obesity
- Smoking during pregnancy
- Certain medications taken during pregnancy
Resources
Little Hearts is a national organization providing support, education, resources, networking, and hope to families affected by congenital heart defects.
Mended Little Hearts is a non-profit, volunteer-led program. Mended Little Hearts provides a nationwide peer-to-peer support network to families with a child born with a congenital heart defect.
Fetal Health Foundation is a parent-founded non-profit that supports families receiving a fetal syndrome diagnosis.