Your support made a real difference to young families facing a fetal syndrome diagnosis. Read about the impact that the Fetal Health Foundation made in 2019. Download the report PDF and share!
2019 Fetal Health Foundation Impact Report
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Michelle Somers
How to Holiday Shop for the New Parents on Your List
Gift ideas can be hard to come by when you’re getting ready for the holidays; some friends and loved ones are just plain hard to buy for, or you may be on a budget that keeps you from buying the items you really want to get. When it comes to the new parents on your list, however, there are so many great choices that will help them feel better as they go through all the roughest parts of parenthood.
Daddy’s Diet Matters Too: How What Men Eat and Drink Affects Fetal Health
Until more recently, men’s diets and their effects on fetal health have never been taken into consideration. Dads, it may be time to hold off on that loaded cheeseburger and side of chili cheese fries. Here’s a look at why.
UC San Francisco Team Named Winner of Brianna Marie Memorial Research Grant for a Second Time
The recipient of this year’s Brianna Marie Memorial Research Grant goes for a second time to Dr. Teresa Sparks and team at the University of California, San Francisco to further support the completion of your research project titled “Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis: Toward a Precision-Based Approach.”
Foods to Avoid When Pregnant
Whether it’s your first or fifth pregnancy, this is a special time.
It is crucial to carefully consider what you are eating and make sure you are on a healthy balanced diet throughout your pregnancy.
While you may have to cut out some foods for nine months, some are okay in small amounts.
PTSD and the NICU: When the Feelings Linger
9 years after our 100-day stay at the NICU, I was suddenly paralyzed by PTSD. Every horrible feeling of fear, anxiety, despair, and anger came flooding back all at once, as a sucker punch to the gut. Emotional scars I thought long healed were bleeding again, as I hurt for my friend and for my own experiences.
Dr. Chmait Performs Minimally-Invasive Fetoscopic Surgery for Spina Bifida
“We have a unique approach that is a technique first established in Brazil by Dr. Lapa, and we brought it over to the United States. Dr. Quintero and I have put together a fetoscopic treatment that is FDA approved to repair open spina bifida, that is entirely percutaneous (there is no laparotomy and no hysterectomy),” said Dr. Ramen Chmait, Director, Los Angeles Fetal Surgery.
The Best Possible Chance at a Fantastic Life
I saw my physician’s name come across my phone screen, and my heart sank. He explained that the ultrasound showed an abnormality, and he predicted a spina bifida diagnosis. I had no idea what that meant, and the rest of the words coming out of his mouth became a blur.
Noelle’s Light
I was so, so terrified. Not for me, but for her. Would she be okay? Would she be in pain? Please just save her! As I wheeled away from my family, the only feeling I remember is fear. In the OR, faces I didn’t know surrounded me. I was squeezing the hand of a person I’d never met as they prepped me for the emergency C-section.
Spina Bifida Research at UC Davis Provides Hope
Spina bifida, which literally means “cleft or split spine,” is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1,645 babies are born in the U.S. with spina bifida each year.
Eli’s Story: Finding a Miracle at the End of a Diagnosis
“There’s a major problem with your pregnancy.” Are words no expecting parents anticipate hearing. At our routine twenty-week ultrasound, the ultrasound technician got the doctor, and we heard the words that would forever change our lives. “The bladder isn’t releasing urine” and “the amniotic fluid level is dangerously low.”
Babywearing and the Impact It Has on the Bond Between Baby and Caretaker
Kangaroo care (KC, sometimes referred to as “skin-to-skin”) is the most optimal way to promote close contact and can be done by placing your diapered (undressed) baby on your bare chest. This seemingly insignificant practice will actually promote a strong and healthy relationship between caregiver and baby while helping baby thrive exponentially.