At the Fetal to Newborn Care Center, you and your baby are in great hands.

Our dedicated team of maternal-fetal medicine specialists, high-risk obstetricians, neonatologists, neonatal surgeons and pediatric subspecialists can perform a full range of procedures and interventions to address complex fetal and newborn conditions right here in our region.

Depending on your baby’s condition and diagnosis, certain procedures and interventions may be recommended to help you through your pregnancy.

Some of the procedures and interventions for high-risk pregnancy that our specialists can offer include:

• Amnioreduction. Too much amniotic fluid around your baby can cause complicationssuch as preterm birth. Amnioreduction is a procedure used to decrease excess amniotic fluid by inserting a needle through the abdominal wall and using a syringe to remove some fluid. An amnioreduction can increase your comfort and will prolong your pregnancy until it’s safe to deliver your baby.
• Cordocentesis and intrauterine intravascular transfusion. In fetuses with anemia due to maternal antibodies (Rh-disease) or viral infections, a small needle may be inserted through the mother’s abdomen into the fetus’ umbilical vein under ultrasound guidance. The fetal blood can be tested for anemia and other conditions, and if necessary a life-saving transfusion can be given to the fetus.
• Fetal shunt. In fetal shunt placement, a shunt (hollow tube) is inserted through the mother’s abdomen and uterus and into the baby to drain fluid into the amniotic cavity (the sac around the fetus) from a body part that contains too much fluid, such as for babies with pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs) or urinary tract blockages.
• Fetoscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure where a doctor uses ultrasound to guide a thin camera into the uterus. Fetoscopy is used when clinicians need to see your baby up close to help diagnose a suspected genetic condition or confirm the health of your baby. Fetoscopy may be used to repair bladder obstructions in your baby or enable a surgeon to close off abnormal vascular connections between twins.
• In utero laser treatment for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a serious complication of twin and occasionally triplet pregnancies that occurs in 10 percent to 15 percent of twin pregnancies where the babies share the same placenta (monochorionic).Normally, while the placenta is shared, the blood supply for each baby is separate. However, in some cases the babies share blood supply. We use in utero laser treatment to close the connecting blood vessels so each of your babies maintains his or her own blood supply.
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). In radiofrequency ablation, a small needle is inserted into the uterus and heated to seal off the flow of blood to certain areas. It is most often utilized as a way to safely reduce a complicated twin pregnancy where the twins are sharing the same placenta (the organ that nourishes the baby in the womb).

The Fetal to Newborn Care Center sees the highest volume of high-risk pregnancies and complex fetal conditions in the region. While every pregnancy is unique, our compassionate team will use advanced technology and innovative treatments to deliver personalized care. Our goal is to provide the best possible outcome for you and your baby. We understand that this can be a scary process. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.