What to Expect from Fetal Cardiology
725 Welch Road, 1st floor
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: (650) 721-2121
Fax: (650) 497-8422The Fetal Cardiology program’s treatment plan for your baby is always based on family-centered care. We believe that your family’s participation in the health care team will improve your baby’s care. We work with your family to develop a treatment plan specifically for your baby. That plan will usually include:
At Diagnosis
- An accurate diagnosis
- Thorough and caring counseling to help you understand your options for diagnosis, treatment and surgery. This counseling is provided by heart specialists experienced in the diagnosis and care of heart disease in utero.
- Prompt communication of test results to your referring health care provider
- Tests, such as amniocentesis or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to look for other congenital problems
During Your Pregnancy
- Follow-up assessments, communication and counseling (when needed)
- Close monitoring of your baby’s health and development
- Introduction to the Center for Fetal and Maternal Health, who will help coordinate your care and help you access various resources and services
Preparing for Delivery
- A prenatal consultation with our pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons
- Planning for a safe delivery. We work with the obstetricians and neonatologists who will care for you and your baby and provide them with the information they need.
Your Baby’s Birth
- Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is one of the few children’s hospitals in the country that provides both obstetric and pediatric care. You and your baby are able to stay together at the same hospital and you both receive highly-specialized medical attention.
- Once your baby is born, we provide immediate, expert cardiac and neonatal care. Our team will be familiar with you and your baby through meetings held and information sent by our Fetal Cardiology team during your pregnancy.