Conditions we treat

Find a fetal care specialist

You’ll find comprehensive care for your developing baby at the Center for Fetal Care, for a wide variety of conditions. Our fetal surgeons, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and neonatal and pediatric specialists work together as a team.

We start by evaluating you and your baby with state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging and testing. With an accurate diagnosis, our team creates a care plan tailored to your needs.

Fetal conditions

We bring together experts from many specialties to take care of you and your baby during pregnancy, at delivery and after birth. We have expertise in treating a wide range of conditions that affect babies in the womb.

Abdominal cysts: Fluid-filled sacs of tissue can develop in a baby’s belly, causing problems if they grow very large. Learn more about abdominal cysts.
Atresia: These conditions, which include duodenal, intestinal and esophageal atresia, occur when parts of the digestive tract don’t develop properly during pregnancy. Read more about atresia.
Gastroschisis: A baby’s organs, such as the intestines, stomach or liver, can sometimes stick out through an opening in the belly. Find out more about gastroschisis.
Imperforate anus: The anus may develop improperly, becoming partially closed or connecting to nearby organs such as the bladder.
Omphalocele: A baby’s intestines, covered by a thin membrane, push through an opening at the navel.
Tracheoesophageal fistula: An unusual connection between the esophagus (tube carrying food to the stomach) and trachea (windpipe) that often occurs with esophageal atresia.

Fetal anemia: The baby’s blood has too few red blood cells, causing the heart to work harder to send oxygen to the body.
Hydrops fetalis: Fluid can build up in a baby’s organs and tissues, due to heart failure in which the baby’s heart can’t pump blood efficiently.
Platelet disorders: Babies can have too few platelets (blood cells that clot to prevent bleeding and heal wounds) or platelets that don’t work properly.

Amniotic band sequence (ABS): Sections of the amniotic sac (protective membrane) can come loose and wrap around a baby’s limbs or body, causing development problems.
Clubfoot: One or both feet can develop abnormally, turning downward or inward.
Skeletal dysplasias: This group of genetic disorders, including achondroplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta, affect a baby’s bone and cartilage development. Skeletal dysplasias cause abnormally shaped bones, short stature and other problems.
Skeletal limb dysplasia: Structural problems in a baby’s arms or legs can develop from a variety of causes, including genetic problems, cancer, infections and malnutrition.

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM): Abnormal tangles of blood vessels can form between arteries and veins, usually in or on the brain and spinal cord.
Dandy-Walker syndrome: The cerebellum (back part of the brain) does not form properly, causing an underdeveloped portion and a cyst (fluid-filled sac).
Encephalocele: If a section of a baby’s skull doesn’t form properly, tissue from the brain and its protective coverings can stick out of an opening. Learn more about encephalocele.
Hydranencephaly: The left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum (front part of the brain) are partially or completely missing.
Hydrocephalus: Cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord, can build up in the brain, creating pressure on brain tissue. Find out more about hydrocephalus.
Myelomeningocele (MMC)/spina bifida: If a baby’s spine doesn’t form properly, a sac of fluid, sometimes with nerves and part of the spinal cord, can come through an opening. Read more about myelomeningocele (MMC)/spina bifida.

Trisomy 13: Also called Patau syndrome, this genetic disorder can cause severe intellectual disability. It can also cause physical development problems such as cleft lip and palate, extra fingers or toes. We provide treatments for Patau syndrome.
Trisomy 18: This genetic disorder, also known as Edwards syndrome, can cause intellectual development delays. It can also cause physical development problems such as clenched fingers, feet with a rounded bottom, and bent arms and legs.
Trisomy 21: This genetic disorder, known as Down syndrome, causes problems such as distinct facial features, physical and intellectual development delays, and heart disease.

Fetal conditions that affect twins and higher-order multiples, including:
- Selective Intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR): Some twins develop unevenly, with the smaller baby weighing below the 10th percentile.
- Twin-reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence: One baby doesn’t fully develop, possibly missing their heart, head or limbs. The other baby supplies blood for both twins, straining its heart.
- Twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS): One baby has too few red blood cells (anemia), and the other baby has too many red blood cells, leading to thick blood. TAPS can prevent both babies from receiving enough oxygen.
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS): One baby receives too much blood and the other not enough, which can cause heart problems in both babies.

Cleft lip: If tissues in a baby’s lip don’t form correctly, a split in the upper lip can remain. Learn more about cleft lip.
Cleft palate: Cleft palate is a split in the roof of a baby’s mouth that happens when the tissues don’t join together properly. Read more about cleft palate.
Craniosynostosis: Bones in a baby's skull can join together too early, before the brain is fully formed, potentially affecting physical and intellectual development. Find out more about craniosynostosis.
Micrognathia: An undersized lower jaw can affect a baby’s ability to swallow and feed properly.

Fetal cardiac arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms include tachycardia (too fast), bradycardia (too slow) and ectopic rhythm (dropped or extra beats).
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS): The left side of the heart does not develop properly, affecting the heart’s ability to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Other congenital heart defects: Structural problems in the heart can include valves, ventricles (heart chambers) and other areas that don’t develop properly.
Learn more about fetal heart conditions.

Neonatal lupus: This condition is not the same as adult lupus. Symptoms such as an unusually slow heartbeat can develop when a mother passes certain antibodies to her baby.
Isoimmunization/blood incompatibility: This condition can occur when a mother’s blood and her baby’s blood are not fully compatible. The mother’s body can then produce antibodies that destroy the baby’s red blood cells.
Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT): Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is a blood disorder that affects pregnant women and their babies. Platelets are a type of blood cell that helps stop bleeding, and in some pregnancies, platelets in the mother and baby become incompatible. This disorder can cause a low platelet count and episodes of bleeding in the baby.

Hydronephrosis: Swollen kidneys can result from a lower urinary tract obstruction that causes urine to back up.
Hydroureter: The ureters (tubes connecting kidneys to the bladder) can become swollen and enlarged due to a lower urinary tract obstruction.
Lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO): A blockage in the urethra (tube that exits the body from the bladder) can lead to an enlarged bladder and kidney swelling.
Obstructive uropathy: Conditions throughout the urinary tract can limit or completely block urine flow. These conditions include hydronephrosis, hydroureter and LUTO.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH): An opening can form in a baby’s diaphragm (muscle between the chest and belly), allowing intestines and other organs to push through. This condition can significantly affect the growth of the baby’s lungs during pregnancy. Learn more about congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS): A baby’s trachea (windpipe) or larynx (voice box) becomes blocked. Causes can include a growth and incomplete development of the trachea or larynx.
Fetal and neonatal pleural effusions: Fluid can build up between the lungs and chest wall due to problems such as large fetal lung masses.
Fetal chylothorax: Lymph (fluid that contains white blood cells) can collect in the space between the lungs and chest wall.

Fetal lung masses: Abnormal growths of lung tissue can form in or near a baby’s lungs. Fetal lung masses include congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) and bronchopulmonary sequestration and can pressure the developing lungs and heart.

Cervical teratoma: A large, usually noncancerous tumor can develop in a baby’s neck and may narrow or block the baby’s airway or esophagus.
Chorioangioma: Tumors (usually noncancerous) that grow in the placenta can reduce blood flow to the baby, causing anemia, hydrops fetalis and growth problems.
Lymphatic malformations: A lymphatic malformation is an unusual, noncancerous growth of enlarged, tangled lymph vessels. Lymph is a fluid that helps rid the body of infection and other unwanted substances. Lymph vessels carry lymph between nodes throughout the body.
Sacrococcygeal teratoma: Tumors, usually noncancerous, can develop at the base of a baby’s spine, either inside or outside the body. Learn more about sacrococcygeal teratoma.