Fetal Center

The Fetal Center is co-led by Maternal Fetal Medicine and Neonatology, working collaboratively with any pediatric subspecialist you may need. Our team's vast experience allows us to manage a broad range of complex conditions for you and your baby. We provide advanced, coordinated care to support families during this critical time.

What to Expect

Our team's goal is to conduct a complete evaluation with you in one day. Prior to your appointment, a Fetal Care Coordinator will contact you to:

• Explain your day of testing and evaluation
• Give information about your appointment times and locations
• Answer any questions you have about your day in Indianapolis
• Provide brochures and maps to guide you through the day

At any time, your Fetal Care Coordinator is a resource available to answer questions or address concerns you may have.

Your Visit to the Fetal Center

Your first visit to the Fetal Center will be a day of diagnostic testing and evaluation. Feel free to bring a friend or family member with you, as a second set of eyes and ears are important. 

Our evaluation features advanced fetal imaging including fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted by a specially-trained pediatric radiologist, fetal echocardiogram conducted by pediatric cardiologists and extensive ultrasonography performed by our maternal fetal medicine team. Additional subspecialists will meet with you, depending on your baby’s needs. 

For your convenience and comfort, you will do all your testing and specialist consultations in one office.
 
Once the diagnostic tests are completed the team will meet with you and your family. This team will consist of your Maternal Fetal Medicine physician, Neonatologist and subspecialty physicians.  They will share your testing results, go over prognosis, explain long-term outcomes for your baby and provide a collaborative plan for treatment and delivery. 

All conditions that we currently advise are conditions best treated after your baby is born. If fetal intervention is needed, we will counsel you on those next necessary steps. In addition, we will work with your referring obstetrician to recommend a delivery plan and newborn care – with the potential to deliver locally or in Indianapolis near Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health.

Riley Children’s Health has a multidisciplinary fetal care conference that brings together more than 50 specialists from across the hospital regularly to consult and recommend treatment plans for families. This engagement allows your baby’s care and plan to be understood and managed with all of your needs in mind – whether they are medical, social or financial. You will also receive advice and recommendations from a comprehensive nationally-ranked medical team.

You will receive a packet with information about the diagnosis to take home with you, and your Fetal Care Coordinator remains available for questions long afterward, including connecting you to additional care team members to have your questions answered. 

We understand that sometimes the information can be overwhelming, to say the least, and we will remain a committed partner throughout. If you would like to speak with families that have received treatment through the Fetal Center at Riley Children’s Health, we will help connect you with them, as well.