Four questions could save your baby's life
Doctors are urging pregnant mothers to ask more questions when it comes to their unborn baby's heart.
They say four vital questions could save a newborn's life. At a 20 week scan, ask: Do you see 4 chambers? Are the major organs in the right spot? Is the baby's heart rate normal? And is it functioning normally?
Benji Simpson looks like any other 4-year-old-boy. But on the inside, his little body has already endured so much.
"It's just pure luck that Benji is probably still alive today," Benji's mother Melissa told Seven News.
He was born with major heart problems – a condition called 'Transposition of the great arteries'. It means his blood pumped the wrong way.
"When he was born it was a big shock – Benji's my second child," Ms Simpsons said.
"Having the first pregnancy was a breeze and I expected it no different the second time around but boy was I wrong."
His heart needed major re-plumbing. It's a defect that could have been picked up at a 20-week scan.
"Really, most parents go in there hoping that they're going to find out whether they're having a boy or a girl," Ms Simpson said.
"I know for myself and a lot my friends that's one of the main things that you're focused on at your 20-week scan."
Had doctors known earlier, Benji would have undergone surgery within the first seven days of his life. Then out of hospital within two weeks.
Instead, the later diagnosis meant more surgeries... and months in intensive care.
"If I had have known that I should have maybe asked a couple of questions about my child's heart, my life would have been completely different.
"If parents know that there are questions that they can ask then I think that's one big step."
A healthy heart is what Dr Alex Gooi always hopes for. As a paediatric cardiologist detecting defects in unborn babies is part of his job.
Picking up problems early gives doctors more time to plan if an operation is needed, and parents more time to cope.
"So you at least say, have 18 to 20 weeks to read up on this particular condition or the type of heart surgery that your baby needs," Dr Gooi said.
Simple questions that could save a life.
For more details on what you need to ask go to heartkids.org.
