Heart valve being partially open at birth...

[LosingMyMindInGA]

My brother just informed me that my nephew has a valve in his heart that isn't fully closed.  The docs aren't worried and say it willy likely close on it's own in the first 6 months, they have a follow up appt 6 months from now to check it out.  I've heard bits and pieces about something like this before but was wondering if anyone had anymore information.  Do you know what causes it?  How often does it NOT close on it's own and if it doesn't what are the options and risks?  Thanks ladies!

Otherwise baby Steve checks out perfectly!  He's currently getting "snipped" as my brother so elegantly put it :) LOL

[Clysta]

I wish I could help. I'll be keeping your nephew in my thoughts and hoping it turns out in everyones favour.

Was it ever seen on ultrasound?

[Heatherm4]

I don't know details but I have heard of that before and I'm pretty sure the chances of it not closing is very low!! I wonder what the effects of it will be in the meantime though!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

As far as I know they had NO idea about any of this until they started doing his newborn checks.  I can't help but wonder if there wasn't some underlying condition that wasn't detected.  He was over a week overdue and was only 7 lbs even.  To be so small I find it amazing that they did a c-section because he was "too big"  ??!  Oh well, he's here, he's healthy with that one little exception and he's going home today and that's all that matters.  

[sweetpea03]

With most of these cases, the opening will close on it's own. It's typically not something to really worry about. Glad to hear he is here and otherwise healthy! :)

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Thanks sweatpea!

[roxlynn]

It is far more common than you would think. When an infant takes its first breath it triggers these openings in the heart to close. See, when they are in the womb, there is an opening in the wall that separates the chambers in the heart so that the blood properly circulates from mom. In most infants this opening closes very quickly after birth, but it is common for it to take longer. It can be heard with a stethascope as a mild heart murmur and really does typically go away as the infant matures a little bit. So relax and enjoy your nephew!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Thank you so much for explaining that.  I had a general idea of what it was about, but that helped me to understand far better.  Hopefully I will get to finally meet this little guy soon!  I'm just glad my brother only lives 2 hours away now.  He was 6 states away!!!  

[roxlynn]

No prob! I work with babies everyday :) (best job EVER!!) congrats on being a new aunt, enjoy every minute of it!

[dmnj]

Roxlynn is right. It is much more common that what you may think. I've known several newborns that have been born with a valve not fully closed, and great majority closed way before the six month. It is very very rare that it does not close on its own. Congrats on a healthy baby! Enjoy your nephew!

[lisa1905]

My friend’s son was born with  a same  condition, and doctor told her same thing that it will closed up by itself, and bring him for checkup in 6 month . After 6 month when she took the baby for checkup, everything was fine.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Thanks again ladies.  I'm feeling a lot better about this now :)