Fetal Care Center

• Provided world-class fetal therapy services at Yale New Haven Health for more than 40 years
• Pioneered the nation’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Yale New Haven Health
• Yale New Haven Health is one of only a few hospitals in the country to offer couplet care, where mothers and their babies are cared for together in the same room
• Many procedures available to women with high-risk pregnancies were first developed at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, including noninvasive fetal anemia assessment, percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS), in utero fetal blood transfusion, and therapies such as fetoscopy and fetal surgery
• Physicians are leading researchers in the field of fetal medicine

A fetal therapy coordinator is available to help patients through the process. The coordinator is there throughout the patient’s care journey, from pregnancy through delivery, and often beyond. They guide patients through testing, meeting with specialists, scheduling appointments, and coordinating the elements of the care plan based on the patient’s needs.

For more information or to request an appointment, please call 855-433-8252, or submit a Fetal Care Center Information Request. Someone is available to answer your call from Monday through Friday, 8am – 4:30pm. 

Read our list of frequently asked questions about the Fetal Care Center. 

Here are some of the common conditions we treat at the Fetal Care Center:

• Cleft lip/palate
• Congenital heart defects
• Fetal anemias
• Gastroschisis
• Hydrocephalus
• Intra-abdominal masses
• Spina Bifida
• Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

View the full list of conditions.

Genetic counseling and prenatal testing are among the most valuable tools to help prospective parents make important decisions regarding a current or future pregnancy. Many things are taken into consideration including family medical history, blood test results, ultrasound measurements, age, and ethnicity, to name a few. Our board-certified genetic counselors help families understand their test results and the impact on their current or future pregnancies. They also provide education on which tests are available and explain the results. If there is a detection of a structural abnormality or concerns about a genetic syndrome, the genetic counselor will ensure the family understands the potential prognosis and provide counseling based on the family’s preferences.

Some of the advanced testing options include:

• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
• Amniocentesis
• Karyotype analysis (chromosomal analysis)
• Microarray analysis
• Whole exome sequencing
• Specific gene testing

Neonatologists are pediatricians with advanced training and expertise in the care of sick newborns and play an integral role on the Fetal Care Center medical team. They offer comprehensive consultations following diagnoses and assist the family in establishing an individualized care plan for their newborn. We recommend infants requiring special medical attention be delivered at Yale New Haven Hospital to facilitate immediate access to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), one of the most advanced in the country. Neonatologists oversee the care of all patients in the NICU, in coordination with a full range of pediatric subspecialists.

As part of the Fetal Care Center, fetal cardiologists care for babies in the womb who may be at risk for or are affected by congenital heart disease or abnormal heart rhythms. They collaborate with a multidisciplinary team at the Fetal Care Center, including physicians from maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology, and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, as well as social work and genetic counselors. This special team will help identify causes and customize treatment options. Learn more about our fetal cardiology services including fetal echocardiograms.

In the event a developing baby requires surgery to treat a condition, either while in the womb or after birth, families can rest assured knowing that they’ll receive the greatest of care. Our expert surgical team is made up of a renowned fetal surgery team and pediatric specialists in cardiology, craniofacial and plastic surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, pediatric general surgery, transplantation, and urology. Additional members of the team include anesthesiology, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and child life specialists. Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in Connecticut offering in utero fetal surgery.

At times, pregnancy may result in a life-limiting condition or families are confronted with the difficult decision to end the pregnancy. Our Perinatal Palliative Care program is here to support families through these challenging times. Our compassionate team works with pregnant patients and their families to develop a culturally sensitive and individualized care plan that respects the wishes of the family. Families receive palliative care beginning with the medical diagnosis, throughout and following pregnancy. Learn more about our Perinatal Palliative Care program.