Peggy Donnelly

Peggy Donnelly and BaileyFour years ago, Peggy Donnelly of Oak Lawn started experiencing fatigue and soreness in her joints.She made an appointment to see a rheumatologist, and was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, a chronic inflammatory disorder that is often associated with certain connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.When she became pregnant in May 1997, her obstetrician-gynecologist was concerned that her condition could pose a risk to her baby.He referred her to Bettina F. Cuneo, M.D., director of perinatal cardiology at The Heart Institute for Children at Hope Children's Hospital, for fetal echocardiography.

Fetal echocardiography is a noninvasive test that uses ultrasound to examine the structure of the fetal heart and identify abnormalities.Candidates for the procedure include expectant mothers with a family history of congenital heart disease and those who have maternal diabetes or a connective tissue disease like Peggy.The procedure also is recommended when routine ultrasound detects structural, chromosomal or cardiac abnormalities in the fetus, or fast or slow fetal heart rates.

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Starting in my third month of pregnancy, I went to the hospital for fetal echocardiograms every other Wednesday, says Peggy.At first I was really nervous, but Dr. Cuneo was so nice.She put my husband Jack and I right at ease..

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Research suggests that if the condition is detected early it may be reversible, or if it be not reversible, its progression can be prevented with medication given to the mother. After three months of testing, no problems with the baby's heart were detected and Peggy's biweekly visits to The Heart Institute for Children ended.
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But i be glad I went for the echocardiography, says Peggy.If something had been detected, the doctors at The Heart Institute for Children could have done something to help my baby..