Treatment During Pregnancy

If a test finds that you are carrying a baby with a heart defect, you will continue to get care from your pregnancy doctor (obstetrician). Your obstetrician may refer you to a maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialist. You may be referred to the Ohio Fetal Medicine Collaborative (OFMC), which will help you connect with a team of experts at the Fetal Medicine Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

At Nationwide Children’s you will meet with a multidisciplinary team including cardiologists (doctor s who specializes in baby's hearts), neonatologists (doctors who specialize in treating newborns), cardiothoracic surgeons (doctors who perform surgery) and nurses to learn more about your baby’s care after he or she is born. Nurse coordinators will help answer your questions and concerns, guide you through your pregnancy and prepare you for what to expect. During your clinic visits the medical team will discuss the diagnosis, treatment, recovery and long-term prognosis of your baby. The nurse coordinator will take you on a tour of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit to help prepare you for the hospital stay.

Your doctor will watch your pregnancy closely. You will deliver your baby at a hospital that is ready to care for babies like yours. You should discuss your plans for labor and delivery with your obstetrician. Contact your doctor right away if you have any concerns.