Congenital heart disease is the name used for a difference or problem with how a baby’s heart grows during pregnancy. 

A septal defect is a type of congenital heart disease where there is a hole in the septum. Septal defects can range from small to large. Most children with a smaller septal defect will look healthy they may not show any signs or symptoms until they get older.

Most septal defects are diagnosed and treated successfully.

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Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a rare and severe heart condition where the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed, affecting how blood flows through the body.

In babies born with TGA, the position of the arteries is switched. This means:

• the pulmonary artery is connected to the left ventricle, sending oxygen-rich blood back to the lungs
• the aorta is connected to the right ventricle, sending oxygen-poor blood through the body.

When this happens, oxygen-rich blood cannot get through the body properly. 

TGA is a congenital heart condition. This means it is something your baby is born with.

TGA is life-threatening and needs to be corrected with surgery within the first few weeks of life.

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Coarctation of the aorta (COA) is when the major blood vessel becomes narrow and stops blood from easily flowing away from the heart and through the body.

The aorta is the biggest blood vessel in the body. When it becomes too narrow, it becomes difficult for the left side of the heart to pump blood through to the rest of the body. 

Your child's doctor will take a medical history and check your child's symptoms. They will refer you to a heart specialist, or cardiologist, to test for and diagnose COA.

Once COA is diagnosed, it needs to be treated quickly.

Severe cases of COA are usually found shortly after a baby is born and need immediate surgery to fix. 

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Functional singular ventricle is a condition where your child’s heart only has one ventricle, or lower chamber, that is strong enough to pump blood.

Signs and symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on whether the ventricle is too small, missing a valve, or has not grown at all. 

A missing or non-functioning ventricle cannot be replaced or rebuilt. Treatment focuses on supporting the normal ventricle and usually involves a series of staged reconstruction surgeries.

Treatment for your child will depend on their individual needs and may look different depending on the type of heart defect they have.

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Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a rare condition where a baby is born with four different congenital heart defects. 

Your baby will be referred to a heart specialist (cardiologist) for treatment and management of TOF.

TOF is treated with surgery to repair the heart defects. Surgery is usually done soon after birth, depending on how severe the defects are. 

Most babies who have a complete TOF repair recover well after surgery. Your child will need regular check-ups with their cardiologist throughout their life to make sure they are healthy, growing well, and managing any complications from the condition. 

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Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a condition where the left side of your child’s heart does not develop properly and cannot pump blood well.

Generally, it is not possible to fix missing or poorly working parts of the heart. 

HLHS is treated with medication and a series of surgeries. 

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