Fetal Care Center and Special Delivery Unit

Overview

Our fetal care physicians not only diagnose complex congenital heart defects in utero, but also coordinate multidisciplinary management strategies before an infant is even born. Complicated and high-risk pregnancies are expertly managed throughout the pregnancy within our Level III perinatal center. Critically ill newborns receive the highest level of care available in our Level III neonatal intensive care unit.

The Fetal Care Center pools the talents of dozens of experts in Maternal-fetal medicine, Neonatology, and Pediatric cardiology including dedicated fetal cardiologists, pediatric heart failure specialists, pediatric electrophysiologists, pediatric interventional cardiologists, and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons. In addition, our team includes a full range of other specialists including geneticists, pediatric surgeons, radiologists as well as a full spectrum other pediatric and adult subspecialists. Families benefit from the coordinated care for the most complicated pregnancies and births, and mothers and babies have access to advanced diagnostic and treatment options, as well as expert counseling and education. We have dedicated fetal care center nurse coordinators who guide families from diagnosis to delivery. Comprehensive family support is available throughout pregnancy and delivery.

Infants with complex congenital heart defects and mothers with congenital heart disease or other complex medical problems are cared for in the Special Delivery Unit. The Special Delivery Unit is the first U.S. facility designed for specialized care of both mothers and newborns with serious medical issues. In addition to personalized care for these most complex deliveries, it boasts a low nurse to patient ratio and dedicated in house Attending Obstetrician, supported by a full range of Maternal Fetal Medicine, OB-anesthesthesia and Neonatal teams. Because of the ability to care for the high risk infant and/or mother, parents and newborns need not be separated or transferred after birth. Proximity of this unit to the Pediatric cath lab and cardiac operating rooms allows for immediate neonatal interventions when needed.