Fetal Care Chat: Women in Fetal Medicine

Fetal Care Chat: Women in Fetal Medicine

Fetal Health Foundation founder and Fetal Care Chat host, Lonnie Somers welcomes three amazing pioneering women in fetal medicine. Dr. Jenan Miller, Dr. Courtney Stephenson, and Dr. Diana Farmer.

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Home at Last: Parker Overcomes a Life-Threatening CDH Diagnosis

Home at Last: Parker Overcomes a Life-Threatening CDH Diagnosis

CDH affects 1,600 babies in the U.S. each year. In CDH, a hole in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs to move upwards into the chest during development, crowding the lungs and inhibiting their proper growth. Underdeveloped lungs and blood vessels that supply the lungs can cause high blood pressure in the lungs, asthma, gastrointestinal reflux, feeding disorders and developmental delays in childhood survivors of CDH.

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Rare Expertise for the Rarest Conditions: Unique Surgery Technique Saves Twin Babies

Rare Expertise for the Rarest Conditions: Unique Surgery Technique Saves Twin Babies

Upon meeting with Colorado Fetal Care Center maternal fetal medicine specialist and fetal surgeon Nick Behrendt, MD, the Oligmuellers learned their case of TTTS was severe. The best solution for TTTS is typically fetoscopic laser ablation. It’s a minimally invasive surgery in which the surgeon inserts a tiny scope into the uterus, through the amniotic sac.

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One step closer to treating spina bifida with stem cells

One step closer to treating spina bifida with stem cells

With the CIRM funding, the UC Davis team will be able to launch their one-of-a-kind treatment in the coming months. It will be delivered while the baby is still in the mother’s womb (in utero). The complex procedure, with its unique use of a stem cell “patch,” could improve outcomes for children who are born with the severe form of spina bifida known as myelomeningocele.

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Should You Get the COVID Vaccine While Pregnant?

Should You Get the COVID Vaccine While Pregnant?

“In general, SMFM strongly recommends that pregnant women have access to COVID-19 vaccines in all phases of future vaccine campaigns, and that she and her healthcare professional engage in shared decision-making regarding her receipt of the vaccine. Counseling should balance available data on vaccine safety, risks to pregnant women from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a woman’s individual risk for infection and severe disease. As data emerge, counseling will likely shift, as some vaccines may be more suitable for pregnant women.

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5 Ways Meditation Can Help During Pregnancy

5 Ways Meditation Can Help During Pregnancy

When I was pregnant, it felt like my mind never stopped. When I would try to fall asleep at night, one thought after another would keep me up.
If that sounds like you, meditation is a wonderful way to quiet some of those intrusive thoughts, so you can wind down. With meditation, you will be concentrating on listening to your rhythmic, steady breathing and getting in touch with your baby.

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Alloimmunization in Pregnancy: When the Blood Cells Attack

Alloimmunization in Pregnancy: When the Blood Cells Attack

11-weeks pregnant with her third child, Jessica Reger expected this pregnancy to go as smoothly as the others, with the exception of a complicated delivery with her second baby that required an emergency surgery and blood transfusions. But a routine ob/gyn visit revealed an abnormal blood screen – her blood was alloimmunized.

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EXIT Procedure Saves Baby with Rare Tumor Diagnosis During Pandemic

EXIT Procedure Saves Baby with Rare Tumor Diagnosis During Pandemic

Giving birth to a baby with an unusual prenatal diagnosis at 27 weeks in the midst of a global pandemic comes with its own unique challenges. That was one family’s reality earlier this year. But the care team at the Colorado Fetal Care Center — the only team in the region able to perform the procedure their baby needed to survive — was there to help them through it.

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Integrated Fetal Health Centers Provide Unique Benefits to Mother and Baby

Integrated Fetal Health Centers Provide Unique Benefits to Mother and Baby

“Both the mom and fetus or newborn have access to a full range of hospital services from labs to imaging to counseling and surgery in one area. The close proximity also allows for further bonding between the parents and the infant at a critical time. Additionally, co-locating the care team fosters collaboration in emergency situations,” stated McGuinness.

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Mila’s CDH Story | From Diagnosis to Delivery – and Beyond

Mila’s CDH Story | From Diagnosis to Delivery – and Beyond

“In severe cases of CDH, the survival rate is ranging from less than 20% to 50%, but with FETO, we’re seeing a huge improvement in odds of survival,” said Dr. Lim. “Right now, it looks like survival rates as high as 80-90% are possible, but we’re still learning.”

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Maverick’s Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Journey

Maverick’s Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Journey

Babies born with Maverick’s heart condition and a restrictive or absent communication between the top two chambers of the heart, are born with abnormal lungs, in addition to the heart defect. In fact, most of these babies do not survive after birth. Maverick underwent creation of an opening in the top two chambers of the heart in fetal life with a stent, to allow him to be stable after birth..

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Stress and Your Baby: New Study Identifies Impacts of Maternal Stress on Fetal Health

Stress and Your Baby: New Study Identifies Impacts of Maternal Stress on Fetal Health

In a report entitled ‘The United States of Stress’, Everyday Health’s Nan-Kristen Forte reveals that one-third of Americans have gone to their doctors for a stress-related problem, which often affects their work, social lives, and inner peace. But for pregnant women, new research reveals that high levels of maternal stress pose even more worrisome problems, as it can have an effect even on their unborn baby.

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COVID- 19 and Concerns of People with High-Risk Pregnancies

COVID- 19 and Concerns of People with High-Risk Pregnancies

Pregnancy can be an exciting but stressful time, especially when things – like unexpected health complications or concerns for your baby – create added worries. Adding the COVID-19 pandemic into such an uncertain time can leave expectant parents feeling even more...

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High-Risk Pregnancy + Coronavirus: Q & A with the Experts

High-Risk Pregnancy + Coronavirus: Q & A with the Experts

In this ever-changing environment impacted by COVID-19, women who have higher-risk pregnancies face a different set of challenges in requiring more visits and potential fetal therapies in order to chance a successful delivery. The Fetal Health Foundation recently compiled the most accurate information out right now about what being diagnosed with a fetal syndrome looks like….

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2020 Connexions Magazine Available Online

2020 Connexions Magazine Available Online

award-winning 2020 Connexions magazine, full of updates around fetal research, how our maternal fetal partners are improving outcomes for patient families with conditions such as spina bifida, IUGR and tetralogy of fallot, as well as learning more about PCOS and pregnancy, or the importance around birth photography.

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Delivery + Caring for a Newborn During a Pandemic

Delivery + Caring for a Newborn During a Pandemic

Tips on what to expect during prenatal care and delivery. CDC disinfection protocols, breastfeeding, and resources for new parents are discussed. Updated on April 2, 2020, we also talk about questions you should ask and about going back to work after delivery.

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Using Telehealth For OB Patients During COVID-19

Using Telehealth For OB Patients During COVID-19

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth was minimal in obstetric practice in the US. Despite its growth in other healthcare areas, few healthcare facilities or providers were set up to provide OB telehealth services.  However, in the short span of 4-6 weeks, this has changed dramatically. 

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COVID-19 & Pregnancy: UPDATED Resources for Expectant and New Parents

COVID-19 & Pregnancy: UPDATED Resources for Expectant and New Parents

Pregnancy and life with a newborn during the COVID-19 pandemic is frightening. We’ve asked members of our medical advisory board to continue to contribute the most relevant and up-to-date resources that they find as the situation evolves.  We’ll continue to update this post as new information is available.

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