Amari & Javar: conjoined twins separated at CHOP while whole family is given special care
5-minute read
Finding out they were having twins was super exciting news for Tim and Shaneka, but finding out they were conjoined led to a whole new set of questions and a whole new path for their family. Experts at CHOP restored their initial joy and delivered the news that the babies could be safely delivered and likely candidates for separation surgery.
Once Conjoined, Now Thriving: The Altobelli Twins Three Years Later
4-minute read
Facing a complex conjoined twin delivery, the Altobellis knew they needed top notch care for their babies’ best outcome. So they turned to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Not only were the babies successfully delivered, mom was also healthy and delighted by her newborn babies. Today, they have been separated and are thriving as individuals!
Meet the smallest premature baby treated by Stanford Children’s Preterm PDA Closure Program
5-minute read
When a baby is born very early, it takes a team of well coordinated care with expert skills and decision making to not only save the baby, but allow her to grow and flourish. Amazing teams of medical professionals at Stanford Medicine Children’s Hospital did just that for baby Theia and her parents.
Why fetal MRI & ultrasound images can look supernatural, but their value is out of this world
3-minute read
Fetal MRIs can produce some odd-looking images that some describe as spooky while others can’t make head nor toes of them. Leader of the fetal ultrasound team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia tells us why the images are so fantastical and why they are so important.
Nixon: Making remarkable strides in his development thanks to the world’s first study of its kind for spina bifida
The landmark clinical trial CuRe Trial: Cellular Therapy for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele is underway at UC Davis Health. The world’s first spina bifida treatment combining fetal surgery with stem cells could change the life of a baby with spina bifida, who could otherwise be paralyzed from the waist down.
Christian: Now an EMT decades after groundbreaking spina bifida surgery
Christian was the 14th patient to undergo fetal surgery for myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is now a tall, handsome 24-year-old who recently passed his national certification to become an emergency medical technician (EMT).
Tobias, second patient to receive stem cell treatment in utero, thanks to ongoing clinical trial for spina bifida
Oregon couple traveled to California for in-utero surgery at nearly 26 weeks gestation to repair the baby’s spina bifida defect. During the operation, doctors placed a stem cell patch on the baby’s small spine. The results are making waves around the world.
Lexi’s story: surpassing all expectations after in-utero surgery for spina bifida
5-minute read
The Badenhop family wasn’t expecting news of spina bifida and were scared and uncertain about their baby’s future. But Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s expert team offered hope — and a successful outcome for baby Lexi.
The impact of fetal surgery for spina bifida and hydrocephalus: a patient’s perspective
5-minute read
A young mom is faced with life or death decisions soon after learning her son’s diagnosis of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. She tells us her heartwarming story.
UC Davis CuRe trial awarded $15 million to support clinical trial testing stem cell treatment for spina bifida
4-minute read
Researchers at UC Davis Health are continuing to Phase 2 of a clinical trial for in utero surgery that uses stem cells to repair spina bifida defect, offering potential better outcomes.
Young Brothers Thrive after Defying Odds of Extremely Rare Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
3-minute read
Zane and Zeke are happy and thriving today after experiencing impossibly long odds of developing the same congenital heart defect. The exceptional care teams at Children’s Hospital Colorado provided cutting edge expertise and unwavering support for the entire family throughout both boys’ fight to survive.
A simple blood test developed by Stanford-led researchers predicts preterm birth
2 minutes
An affordable and accessible test can provide pregnant women around the world an opportunity to understand their risk of preterm birth, allowing for healthier pregnancies and healthier babies.
How Nationwide Children’s is Optimizing Prenatal and Neonatal Care for Infants with Treatable Rare Diseases
4-minute read
Now that there is ever-growing potential to intervene medically before a child is born, it expands the utility of prenatal testing. Doctors can find ways to intervene earlier to improve outcomes.
UCSF Leads the Way in Hydrops Research
3-minute read
University of California at San Francisco Hydrops Center of Excellence leads the way in Hydrops research. Funding from Brianna Marie and Fetal Health Foundations helps experts continue to deliver the latest in-utero treatments.
Tests to expect during pregnancy: Dr. Teresa Harper tells us the six most common tests to ensure the health of mom and baby(ies)
2-minute read
Dr. Teresa Harper, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, tells us which 6 tests are most commonly relied on during pregnancy to help guide care and minimize risks.
Ella’s life is saved after surgery for sacrococcygeal teratoma, a rare fetal tumor, at the Colorado Fetal Care Center
2-minute read
Four years later, Ella is a thriving preschooler and big sister, thanks to Colorado Fetal Care Center. The Center is the only facility in the Rocky Mountain region to offer the complex procedure she underwent to remove a sacrococcygeal teratoma that was twice Ella’s size.
What is HDFN?
2-minute read
HDFN is a rare fetal syndrome that affects later pregnancies. Johnson & Johnson is pioneering research to help women at severe risk. Their clinical trial is currently enrolling women who are at risk for severe HDFN who have a history of severe HDFN in a prior pregnancy.
Fetal Surgery: Seven Questions Dr. Timothy Crombleholme Answered for Us
4-minute read
Renowned expert Dr. Crombleholme answers common questions about fetal interventions and treating babies before they’re born.
Logan’s Recovery from Gastroschisis
~ 5 Min Read ~ “I’m always amazed when I see these babies at birth, and we put the bowel in a silo how we’re able to get that bowel back into the tummy in such a short period of time,” said Paul Wales, MD, surgical director for the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Cord Blood Banking: What Expectant Parents Should Consider
Is cord blood banking something you should do?
As you eagerly await the arrival of your little one, nothing is more important to you than ensuring the health and safety of your child. At this incredible time of your life, have you considered cord blood banking?
Sacrococcygeal Teratoma: Complex Procedure Saves Baby with Rare Fetal Tumor
~ 6 minute read ~ This sacrococcygeal teratoma article appeared in the spring 2024 edition of Connexions, a magazine for the Fetal Health Community Rural Colorado couple Lyndsy and her husband, Aaron, found out they were expecting their third child, Ella, in November...
How a Cystic Fibrosis Drug Given Prenatally Changed the Lives of One Family
Foundation supporters at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health gave us permission to share this story of hope for prenatal help for cystic fibrosis.
Considering Fetal Surgery or a Fetal Care Center? What to Keep in Mind
Fetal Health Foundation Medical Advisory Board member Dr. Timothy Crombleholme, MD, who leads the Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children’s, shares six important details to consider when your baby needs fetal intervention not just to survive, but to thrive.
TTTS Triplet Parents Reflect on their Daughters’ Surgery and Birth
Performing surgery on triplets is more complex than on twins. In Tiffini’s case, there were two placentas: Hannah had one placenta all to herself, while Sophia and Isabella were sharing the other placenta, albeit unequally. Sophia and Isabella were affected by TTTS when the volume of blood flow across the connecting blood vessels between them became uneven, with Isabella getting too much and Sophia getting too little.
Newborn Survives Fatal Kidney Diagnosis (Bilateral Renal Agenesis) with Help from Stanford Children’s Medicine
Ten years ago, Abigail Beutler was born without kidneys, a condition called bilateral renal agenesis. Against all odds, she’s alive today to play with her Breyer horses, read her favorite Paul Revere adventure book, and challenge her brother in archery. The family was...