An increased rate of breathing and difficulty breathing can also be signs of heart trouble, as can poor appetite, difficulty feeding , or failure to thrive . Your child's doctor also may listen for an abnormal heart murmur if he or she suspects a defect. If you notice any of these signs in your baby, call your child's doctor right away. In seeking to determine whether your child has a congenital defect, your child's doctor may refer you to a pediatric cardiologist, who may use any of several diagnostic tools. He may also order an echocardiogram , which provides a more detailed image of the heart by taking an ultrasound picture of it.
Catheterization is another option.
Once in place, the catheter can measure pressure and oxygen levels in the heart's chambers. Or the doctor might inject a dye through the catheter. The dye can illuminate structures and help track blood flow through the heart. It's important to note that a pediatric cardiologist is the doctor most qualified to diagnose a congenital heart defect and provide treatment. This is true even before the baby is born.