Question

My 7-day-old baby has a heart murmur, and an ultrasound shows a ventricular septal defect of 7mm. Now the baby is 3 months old and has no symptoms. Can it heal on its own?

Answer

Hello, based on your description, your baby’s ventricular septal defect is caused by a gap between the left and right atria during the development of the embryonic cardiovascular system. Generally, defects within 5mm can usually heal on their own. Currently, your baby’s ventricular septal defect is 7mm. If the child does not have easy colds, fever, or poor resistance, you can wait until the baby is one year old to have another ultrasound examination. Pay attention to whether the child often has colds, whether there is shortness of breath after activity, or if there are blue lips around the mouth. If there are any symptoms, go to the hospital for a timely review.