The range of possible examinations for pregnant women is constantly increasing. But not every test is useful.
In Germany, more than 6,500 babies are born with a heart defect every year. For example, the children have a hole in the septum between the ventricles, constrictions in the heart valves or improperly formed heart vessels.
This diagnosis comes as a surprise to most parents. Only about a third of serious heart defects are discovered during the usual check-ups for pregnant women. However, there is a safe method that doctors can use to better identify these malformations: fetal echocardiography, a high-resolution ultrasound examination. Carried out…
