Fetal Cardiology
Evaluation of a baby’s heart during pregnancy can be stressful. We will work with you and your OB provider to deliver the best quality care in easy to understand language. Our goal is to assist you in understanding why you are seeing us, what we saw during your visit, and to develop a care plan if needed.
Dr. John Stock was one of the first cardiologists in Phoenix to provide Fetal Echocardiography (Fetal echo/ fetal ultrasound of the heart). This test evaluates the baby’s heart inside of mom, to determine if there are any irregular findings in structure (anatomy), function (squeeze), valve leakage, or rhythm problems. Dr. Stock has decades of experience in evaluation, management, and counseling of fetal cardiology patients.
Common Reasons for Fetal Cardiology Evaluation:
- Unusual findings on OB screening ultrasound, including Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
- Genetic disorders in the baby (Trisomy 21/Down’s syndrome, 22q11 deletion/DiGeorge syndrome, Turners syndrome, etc.)
- Heart problems identified in childhood (congenital heart disease) in mom, dad, or siblings
- Rhythm abnormalities in the baby’s heart (fetal tachycardia- heart rate too fast, fetal bradycardia- heart rate too slow)
- In vitro fertilization
- Diabetes in mom carrying baby
- Some twin pregnancies
- Abnormalities found in structures outside the heart that have an increased risk for heart abnormalities
- Exposure to medications that mom took during pregnancy
