So instead of having a separate left pulmonary artery and aorta, in the fetal heart, these two blood vessels are connected via a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus. In addition, there is an opening between the right and left atria in the fetal heart, called the foramen ovale, which allows blood to circulate more directly from the right atrium to the left atrium during fetal development. The ductus arteriosus and the opening between the two atria exist as parts of the circulatory system before birth, but that system changes after birth. These temporary routes naturally close up shortly after birth, when the baby's lungs and cardiovascular system take over. And because the fetal heart has a circulatory system different from the one the baby uses after birth, some heart defects become apparent days or weeks after birth that weren't spotted earlier.
Heart valves that are malformed, missing, or blocking blood flow.
Problems with the structure of the heart that allow blood to flow from one side to the other outside the normal circulatory path. Problems with the connections between the main arteries or veins and the heart. The outlook for most children born with heart problems is optimistic. Although in some cases physicians may recommend that the children limit their physical activity, young patients can often expect to live normal lives. Cholesterol Although hypertension, or high blood pressure, is not considered a congenital heart disease, it sometimes has a hereditary link.