Can a newborn have a congenital heart defect?

Yes: Yes, it is a heart defect you are born with. It may be simple, moderate, or very serious. They include "holes in the heart", valve problems, malformed or absent chambers, valves, or blood vessels. Just under 1 % of all babies are born with some type of defect, often minor and temporary. They are usually diagnosed shortly after birth, occasionally much later.