Paediatric cardiologist warns of hidden heart defects in newborns: Spot these 7 warning signs before it's too late

Learn about the seven critical signs of serious heart problems in newborns. Finding these signs early is crucial for your baby's health and safety.

Every year, over 1.3 million babies globally are born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), a silent but potentially fatal condition. These structural abnormalities can drastically affect a newborn's health, leading to risks, including infant mortality and long-term disabilities. Shockingly, these heart defects often remain undetected, leaving parents unaware of the lurking dangers.

How do I know if my newborn has a heart defect? (Adobe Stock)

By Tavishi Dogra

Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust.

Career journey and experience
Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon.

From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?”

Subject expertise
With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions.

In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.

Education and professional background
Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.

Editorial Philosophy
I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.

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In many cases, babies with CHD may appear perfectly healthy at first glance, allowing subtle warning signs to slip by unnoticed. This delay can lead to disastrous outcomes. When it comes to a newborn's heart, timing is everything, Dr Smita Mishra, HOD and Consultant - Pediatric Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, tells Health Shots.

“Pediatric cardiologists worldwide advocate for improved parental awareness and routine infant screening to ensure every child receives the best possible start to life,” adds Dr Mishra.

What is a congenital heart disease?

Congenital Heart Disease originates in the heart when a foetus is forming. These heart defects can manifest as:

• Holes in the heart walls
• Faulty valves
• Abnormal blood vessels

While some defects may self-correct or remain asymptomatic, many can develop into life-threatening complications if left untreated. Children with untreated heart conditions face a higher risk of developing severe complications, such as:

• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Heart failure
• Kidney disease
• Blood clots
• Liver disease

This is why early detection is important. Upon identifying defects through imaging tests, the required treatment can vary, ranging from simple monitoring to invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterisation, as per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

7 warning signs that may indicate a heart defect

To safeguard your newborn's health, it is important to be vigilant about the following 7 warning signs that may indicate a heart defect.

Bluish tint on lips, skin, or nails (cyanosis)

Cyanosis is a critical indicator that signals a heart problem. If you notice a bluish tint on your baby’s lips, skin, or nails, especially during crying or feeding, seek immediate medical attention. "Some infants might appear blue even while at rest. Using a pulse oximeter could show low oxygen saturation levels, confirming your concerns," says Dr Mishra.

2. Prolonged feeding time

Is your baby taking an unusually long time to feed, longer than 20 minutes on the breast or bottle? This could indicate that they are struggling. One of the reasons could be a heart defect that affects their stamina. Feeding should not be an exhausting task, so long feeding periods warrant additional examination, as per the World Health Organization.

3. Excessive sweating during feeding

If your baby is sweating excessively while nursing or eating, it might be more than just a reaction to warmth. Excessive sweating may signal that the body is under stress due to a heart defect, as per the American Journal of Cardiovascular Science. Keep a keen eye on these indicators and consult your paediatrician.

4. Increased breathing effort or rapid breathing

Watch your newborn’s breathing patterns. If you notice rapid or difficult breathing that seems unusual, this could be a serious red flag. "When the heart is compromised, it can lead to respiratory difficulties", shares the Pediatric Cardiologist. Increased chest movements paired with a racing heartbeat could indicate that their heart is struggling to pump effectively.

5. Unusual tiredness or sleepiness

Sluggishness in babies can sometimes be a regular part of development, but unusual tiredness or sleepiness, even after adequate rest, should raise concerns, according to Stanford Children's Health. If your child often seems lethargic or too sleepy, it might mean cardiac distress.

6. Poor weight gain or growth delays

If your baby is falling behind on their growth milestones or not gaining weight as expected, this could indicate underlying health issues. Congenital heart defects can hinder the body’s ability to thrive, leading to visual deficits in weight and growth, as per the journal Children.

7. Heart murmur detected by the doctor

During routine examinations, your paediatrician may detect a heart murmur, a swishing sound indicating turbulent blood flow in the heart. "While many heart murmurs are harmless, some can indicate heart problems that need further evaluation", explains the expert.

Newborns with severe cardiac defects are at a life-threatening risk and often need surgical intervention within days or even hours after birth, as per the Korean Journal of Paediatrics. Early diagnosis can be life-saving. Don’t allow these subtle symptoms to go unchecked. Each sign represents a potential urgency, and understanding these could mean the world to your newborn. If you suspect any of these signs in your child, don’t hesitate to consult a pediatric cardiologist immediately.