Cyanotic congenital heart disease is a group of birth defects in which blue (oxygen-poor) blood is pumped to the body. The color change is obvious, but the disease also steals energy and growth from day one. Blue color is the headline. Lips, tongue, fingertips, and toes look dusky or deep purple, especially during crying, feeding, or bath time. Fast, labored breathing is constant. The baby uses more breaths per minute and may grunt with each exhale. Poor weight gain follows early. Infants tire at the bottle, fall asleep quickly, and don’t add ounces like their peers. Squatting or breath-holding spells... Learn more