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Almost one in one hundred babies is born with a heart problem. The cardiac team at Arkansas Children's understands parents' concerns and the importance of diagnosing heart problems early, even before your baby's birth.
The Fetal Heart Center program includes pediatric cardiologists and sonographers with expertise in fetal cardiac imaging and congenital heart defects. We work together with other subspecialties, including Maternal Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Surgery and Genetics, to provide you with the most comprehensive prenatal care for your unborn child. Arkansas Children's, in cooperation with the University of Arkansas, is one of only a few pediatric hospitals in the nation performing fetal magnetocardiography to fully evaluate the baby's heart rhythm.
A fetal echocardiogram feels like an ultrasound but provides a more detailed view to evaluate the structure of a baby’s heart. It shows details like heart rate and rhythm, chamber sizes and cardiac valves, making early diagnosis and planning possible.
Several maternal and fetal conditions warrant a fetal echocardiogram, including family history of congenital heart disease, maternal autoimmune disorders and fetal arrhythmia. However, a fetus's heart could look abnormal without these risks, making cardiac evaluations vital for all pregnancies.
If your OB-GYN and/or maternal-fetal medicine provider requests a fetal echocardiogram, a fetal nurse coordinator with Arkansas Children’s Fetal Heart Center will contact you to schedule the appointment. The screening is recommended to take place by 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Watch a video demonstrating an example of a fetal echocardiogram.
Arkansas Children's Hospital is home to the only pediatric Level One Trauma Center in Arkansas. While we hope that no child needs care from an accident or injury, for the children in Arkansas, there is no better place for them than the Pediatric Level One Trauma Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
Our surgical services team specializes in providing expert care for children. Anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, and the interdisciplinary team bring pediatric expertise and years of experience to each patient's perioperative care.
In-person clinic appointments are available in Little Rock and Springdale.
To schedule a Fetal Echocardiogram, call the Heart Station at Arkansas Children's at 501-364-1479.
To schedule a Fetal Echocardiogram with a Level 2 Obstetric Ultrasound, call the ANGELS program at 1-866-273-3835.
Fax: 501-364-1526
Telemedicine clinic appointments are available in Batesville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro and Texarkana.
The Regional Care Center helps families traveling from another state or country receive world-class pediatric care before, during and after your stay.
Learn more about the Regional Care CenterThe Arkansas Children’s expectant parent pages will help you find neonatal intensive care resources, research study opportunities with the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, what to expect during the first month of a baby’s life and much more.
View expectant parent information
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