Fetal Cardiac Strain Imaging Research

The subject will have to complete 6 fetal echocardiograms. A fetal echocardiogram is picture of the unborn baby's heart in motion made by bouncing sound waves off the heart and recording the echo. The procedure will be very similar to the ultrasounds that the subject is already receiving as part of her prenatal care.

The scans will start at week 20 of the subject's pregnancy and repeat every 3 weeks until week 38 of birth (whichever occurs first). The appointments will last approximately 30 minutes each and will be performed by one of two sonographers trained specifically in fetal echocardiography. One additional echocardiogram will be performed on the infant after birth, within the first two months of life. In addition to the scans, study staff will access the subject's medical record to collect information such as: age, ethnicity, race, medical history and health insurance status.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient at the obstetrics clinic at Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women at the time of their second trimester screening ultrasound
• Fetus must have no recognizable disease at the second trimester screening ultrasound
• Willing to participate in a total of 5 fetal echocardiograms and one within 2 months after delivery
• English or Spanish literacy
• A four chamber view of the heart must be visible upon screening examination
• No fetal anatomic or growth abnormalities suspected on screening examination.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects that meet the cutoff point for maternal obesity (BMI>30) and have identified risk factors for fetal cardiac dysfunction as determined by medical team.