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Heart Development
Anybody has any idea- when is babies heart fully develop? before 18 weeks or after 23rd week?
Will do! :) I can tell you prayers work. my son is a testiment to that, because by all rights he shouldn't be here today, about to celebrate his 1st birthday on the 14th. Make sure you check out sites like babycenter, there are boards there for heart mommies that may be more active than the ones here (check them out also).
Thank you Cindie. You are giving me encouragement.I was totally down and my hus also. I am waiting for a miracle from God.Please keep me also in your prayers.
I can tell you, From experience that a baby's heart is fully developed by week 18, which is why doctors do fetal echos between 18-24 weeks, it's the soonest they can visualize the heart without the bones getting in the way or "shadowing" it, and also the latest for them to detect holes and other issues.
There are many cases when a baby has a hole or two early on and as the baby grows and the heart continues to grow the holes close or get smaller on their own. After birth baby's can be given medications to help close the holes and manage things like hypertension that's related to holes in the heart. Some require surgery.
my son TJ had 3 holes in his heart. my fetal echo at 22 weeks missed them and only detected a possible VSD, well he had a huge one and they told me the day he was born right before my C/S. He was a sick baby and couldn't be on some of the heart meds they use for these issues normally so due to failure to grow and thrive at 10w old he had his open heart surgery.
As of a few weeks ago a follow up sedated echo (so he would be still) showed his heart %100 healthy! :)
by the way, they can easily fix the valve problem by putting one in, and placing a patch over the hole in the heart. Sometimes in these situations babies are born with a PDA which normally closes at full term, it's a vessel that goes between the heart and lungs and in babies with heart issues, sometimes it's benefitial to keep it open a little longer and it can be done with a stent type device I think.
Good luck to you and your little girl, it's gonna be a hard road, one I've traveled personally but you can make it. :) Keep hope, these are correctible problems.
Cindie
There are many cases when a baby has a hole or two early on and as the baby grows and the heart continues to grow the holes close or get smaller on their own. After birth baby's can be given medications to help close the holes and manage things like hypertension that's related to holes in the heart. Some require surgery.
my son TJ had 3 holes in his heart. my fetal echo at 22 weeks missed them and only detected a possible VSD, well he had a huge one and they told me the day he was born right before my C/S. He was a sick baby and couldn't be on some of the heart meds they use for these issues normally so due to failure to grow and thrive at 10w old he had his open heart surgery.
As of a few weeks ago a follow up sedated echo (so he would be still) showed his heart %100 healthy! :)
by the way, they can easily fix the valve problem by putting one in, and placing a patch over the hole in the heart. Sometimes in these situations babies are born with a PDA which normally closes at full term, it's a vessel that goes between the heart and lungs and in babies with heart issues, sometimes it's benefitial to keep it open a little longer and it can be done with a stent type device I think.
Good luck to you and your little girl, it's gonna be a hard road, one I've traveled personally but you can make it. :) Keep hope, these are correctible problems.
Cindie
my sonogram report says that my baby girl dont have one valve (suppose to give oxygen)and 2 holes in her heart. So that i am asking when is the heart fully develop? that way, i can have some hope..
Thanks for everybodys comments
Thanks for everybodys comments
Like everyone said the heart is fully developed before week 18. If you are concerned because of an U/S report, I can tell you that my Dr. did an U/S at 16 weeks to check the spine, which can be studied well by that point, but had to wait until the 20 week scan to check other organs that were more difficult to get a clear study of. The heart was an organ specifically mentioned. If you had an U/S before 18 weeks and have been sent for another one a few weeks later it may just have been difficult for the Dr to see what they wanted to see.
Very early on the heart is fully developed, long before week 18. I'm curious to know why you were so specific with your question.
The fetal heart undergoes a considerable amount of growth very early in pregnancy. The most critical period of its development is between three and seven weeks after fertilization, when a simple heart tube assumes the shape of a four-chambered heart. In fact, the heart actually begins beating by the 22nd day of life.
When you are 5 weeks pregnant, your baby's heart is made up of two tiny channels called heart tubes and they're already hard at work, beating to their own drummer (it will be weeks before those beats become coordinated). When those tubes fuse together, your baby will have a fully functioning heart.
Day 22: heart begins to beat with the child's own blood, often a different type than the mothers'.
Week 3: By the end of third week the child's backbone spinal column and nervous system are forming. The liver, kidneys and intestines begin to take shape.
Week 4: By the end of week four, the child is ten thousand times larger than the fertilized egg.
Week 5: Eyes, legs, and hands begin to develop.
Week 6: Brain waves are detectable; mouth and lips are present; fingernails are forming.
Week 7: Eyelids, and toes form, nose distinct. The baby is kicking and swimming.
Week 8: Every organ is in place, bones begin to replace cartilage, and fingerprints begin to form. By the 8th week the baby can begin to hear.
Week 12: All of the baby's organs are fully functional.
When you are 5 weeks pregnant, your baby's heart is made up of two tiny channels called heart tubes and they're already hard at work, beating to their own drummer (it will be weeks before those beats become coordinated). When those tubes fuse together, your baby will have a fully functioning heart.
Day 22: heart begins to beat with the child's own blood, often a different type than the mothers'.
Week 3: By the end of third week the child's backbone spinal column and nervous system are forming. The liver, kidneys and intestines begin to take shape.
Week 4: By the end of week four, the child is ten thousand times larger than the fertilized egg.
Week 5: Eyes, legs, and hands begin to develop.
Week 6: Brain waves are detectable; mouth and lips are present; fingernails are forming.
Week 7: Eyelids, and toes form, nose distinct. The baby is kicking and swimming.
Week 8: Every organ is in place, bones begin to replace cartilage, and fingerprints begin to form. By the 8th week the baby can begin to hear.
Week 12: All of the baby's organs are fully functional.
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