Fetal Diagnostic

Pregnant women benefit from the Fetal Diagnostic Clinic, where pediatric cardiologists can diagnose and treat many heart defects in utero or before the child is born. Similar to the normal ultrasound performed in your obstetrician’s office, fetal echocardiography is a special test that helps doctors study the structure of your baby’s heart. Doctors can determine if your child has a heart defect or may need special care upon delivery.

“Heart defects are the most common birth defects,” said Amanda Cook, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist on staff at Brenner Children’s Hospital. “Studies have shown that early diagnosis of a severe heart defect can improve the chances of treating that child successfully upon birth. By completing the testing during pregnancy, parents have time to process the diagnosis and make decisions about their child’s care before going into labor.”

At Brenner Children’s Hospital, we have physicians, surgeons, and nurses trained to not only treat the child but help the family through the entire process, she said. “We take the family on a tour of our NICU and have them meet with cardiothoracic surgeons and other key members of their treatment team to answer any questions they might have and explain what they can expect upon delivery of their child,” Cook said.

Common conditions diagnosed at the Fetal Diagnostic Clinic include an abnormal fetal heart rhythm, defects in the structure of the heart or function of the heart.