When your baby needs more advanced care during your pregnancy, the specialists in our Fetal Care Program all work together to support your baby’s long-term health.
This program is completely designed around fetal care, with multiple specialists across a wide spectrum, including fetal surgeons, maternal fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists and more. If your unborn baby has a fetal condition or complications during your pregnancy, our team will be by your side, guiding you through your and your baby's treatment every step of the way.
Our Approach to Fetal Care
The specialists in our Fetal Care Program are here to help you understand your baby's condition and what comes next. Our goal is to guide you and your baby toward better heath before, during and after delivery. We focus on:
- Improving your baby's long-term health and quality of life
- Preventing complications
- Treating serious or life-threatening conditions
What to Expect from Fetal Care at MU Health Care
Your highly personalized care starts the moment your OB-GYN or maternal fetal medicine provider refers you to our Fetal Care Program.
Our dedicated fetal care coordinator can answer your questions, help you schedule your appointment and walk you through what to expect.
The first step in our Fetal Care Program is making a precise diagnosis. Your care team may perform advanced diagnostic tests, including but not limited to:
- High resolution fetal ultrasound
- Fetal MRI
- Fetal echocardiogram
- Genetic testing of baby and parents
Your next steps and potential treatment options will be guided by your diagnosis. Based on your specific needs, you may meet with a fetal surgeon, maternal fetal medicine specialist and a fetal care nurse practitioner for a consultation.
For your baby, our team will:
- Thoroughly explain your baby's diagnosis
- Help you understand how the condition can affect your baby's overall health and quality of life
- Discuss treatment options that can be performed before your baby is born, such as open or minimally invasive fetal surgery
- Recommend pediatric specialty care that your baby may need after they're born
For you, our team will:
- Explain how your baby's condition may affect your pregnancy
- Walk you through what to expect during the rest of your pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care
- Plan additional monitoring, testing and lifestyle modifications, if necessary
Your care team will also use this time to get to know you, answer your questions and address your concerns.
At the end of your consultation, you'll have a treatment plan in place, and your fetal care coordinator will help schedule any next steps.
Fetal Surgery
In some cases, our fetal surgeons can treat your baby's condition with fetal surgery before your baby is born.
Specifically, fetal surgery can help:
- Avoid a life-threatening complication
- Improve your baby's long-term health
- Prevent or minimize disabilities after your baby is born
Your Fetal Care Team
We take a team approach to your care, with maternal and fetal specialists working together to ensure you and your baby get the treatment you need.
Our Fetal Care Program includes experts in:
- Fetal radiology
- Fetal surgery
- Genetics
- Maternal fetal medicine
- Neonatology
During your pregnancy, your fetal care team may also work closely with additional experts across MU Health Care's 30 pediatric specialties. This may include pediatric specialists in:
- ENT
- Gastroenterology
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Orthopaedics
- Surgery
- Urology
- And others
Fetal Conditions We Care For
- Ambiguous genitalia
- Amniotic band sequence/syndrome
- Bladder exstrophy
- Chorioangioma
- Cloacal exstrophy
- Congenital cystic lung lesions (CPAM, BPS, bronchial atresia)
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
- Congenital heart disease
- Conjoined twins
- Craniocynotosis
- Duodenal atresia
- Ectopia cordis
- Fetal anemia
- Fetal hydrothorax
- Fetal pleural effusions associated with hydrops
- Gastroschisis
- Holoprosencephaly
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydrops fetalis
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Jejunoileal atresia
- Lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO)
- Omphalocele
- Pentalogy of Cantrell
- Post-urethral valves or urethral atresia
- Sacrococcygeal teratoma
- Skeletal dysplasia
- Spina bifida (myelomeningocele)
- Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS)
- Vasa previa
- Ventricular septal defects
Fetal Care Tests and Treatments
Tests
- Amniocentesis
- Cell-free DNA testing
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
- Diagnostic fetoscopy
- Fetal blood sampling
- Fetal fluid sampling
- Fetal echocardiogram
- Fetal monitoring
- Fetal MRI
- Fetal ultrasound
- Genetic testing and counseling
Treatments
- Amniotic band release
- Amniotic fluid infusion
- Amniotic fluid reduction
- Bladder and chest shunt placement
- Ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedures
- Fetal cyst aspiration
- Fetal surgery
- Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO)
- Selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP) for TTTS
- Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence
Why Choose MU Health Care for Fetal Care
Expert Fetal Care Specialists with Decades of Experience
Your baby's care is in the expert hands of our highly experienced fetal surgeons and maternal fetal medicine doctors. They have diagnosed and treated hundreds of babies who have had complex developmental conditions and complications before delivery. Their high level of training and expertise ensures you'll receive an accurate diagnosis, the most advanced treatments and peace of mind.
Collaborative, Coordinated Care
Our collaborative care model brings together fetal surgeons, maternal fetal medicine doctors and pediatric subspecialists into one team. Our Fetal Care Program works diligently to address your concerns and meet mom and baby's needs. They are committed to making you an integral part of your child's care before, during and after delivery.
Our fetal care coordinators are here to help manage your appointments, answer questions and connect you with all the resources you need. This highly personalized care coordination allows you focus on your baby's health and your needs as you navigate your care plan.
Leading‑Edge Fetal Testing and Interventions
Our experienced doctors use the latest technologies and techniques to give your baby the best chance at the healthiest start possible. We offer the latest imaging techniques, like fetal MRI and fetal echocardiography, to gain a clear picture of your child's condition.
Our pediatric neonatal surgeons also specialize in complex neonatal surgeries, such as repairing gastroschisis and omphalocele, minimally invasive repair of esophageal atresia, duodenal atresia and minimally invasive thoracoscopic lobectomy.
Caring for You and Your Baby in One Place
When you and your baby need an extra level of care, we're able to treat you both in one location. Our Fetal Care Program is located within the Maternal Fetal Care Center, which is connected via sky bridge to our Birthing Center in Columbia. What's more, the Birthing Center is located inside our Children's Hospital, just one floor away from our NICU.
With easy access to more than 80 medical specialties — including 30 pediatric specialties — we're prepared to support you and your baby through every step. Our family-friendly care model means you can stay close to your baby throughout your care at MU Health Care.
Related Conditions & Treatments
- Mammogram and Breast Imaging
- Continence and Advanced Pelvic Surgery
- Endometriosis
- Birthing Center
- Irregular or Painful Periods
- Lactation Consultants and Breastfeeding Support
- Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)
- Reproductive Health and Fertility
- Postpartum Depression
- Fetal Care Program
