During Pregnancy

If a test finds that you are carrying a baby with a complex 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.

The team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital will work with your family to come up with the best plan of care for your baby. Nurse coordinators will help answer your questions, guide you through your pregnancy, and get you ready for what to expect.

Your doctor will watch your pregnancy closely. You will deliver your baby at a hospital that is ready to care for high-risk 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.

Fetal cardiac intervention may be a possible treatment option done during pregnancy. A very small number of unborn babies with complex, single ventricle heart defects may benefit from fetal intervention. Expert medical team members will talk about the risks and benefits in full detail if this is an option for your unborn baby.