Renowned Specialists in High-risk, Complicated Pregnancies
Women with chronic or complex health conditions and women who develop problems during pregnancy come under the special care of our high-risk pregnancy experts, the world-renowned Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists at UC Health.
We navigate serious maternal conditions such as diabetes, addiction, cancer and heart disease; and unexpected issues, like early labor, bleeding or high blood pressure. If we find fetal birth defects or growth problems, we can start treatment before birth, provide monitoring, blood transfusions and surgery to give babies the best possible care until they are ready to arrive in the world.
Our MFM team is recognized for remarkable expertise and exceptional resources, dedication, compassion and extensive involvement in the latest advancements in maternal and fetal care. In fact, MFM doctors from around the U.S. routinely refer their most complicated cases to our team at UC Health.
Personal and Compassionate Delivery of Advanced, Intensive Care
Our specialists see patients at a variety of UC Health locations in the greater Cincinnati area, including the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, West Chester Hospital and our Women’s Center in West Chester. We provide care at other hospitals in the community as well: The Christ Hospital and Mercy Anderson.
Our team includes Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians, OB/GYN fellows, OB/GYN residents, certified diabetes educators, advanced practice registered nurses specializing in diabetes and fetal care, and a multidisciplinary team of support specialists. We focus on compassionate continuity of care, from diagnosis to birth and after delivery.
We are fully equipped to manage any level of risk in a pregnancy, supported by the resources available within the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Our ultra-modern birthing suites put you and your family in a comfortable environment during an emotional time. Our physicians work in collaboration with experts from the Cincinnati Children’s Fetal Care Center, one of a few comprehensive fetal care centers in the world specializing in the treatment of complex and rare fetal conditions. Along with our work with advanced medical research and technology, we develop warm doctor-patient relationships. Aware that pregnancy is an incredibly special and personal event, we see patients as close to their homes as we can and arrange for our patients to be delivered by their own doctors.
Leading Investigators in Surgery and Clinical Research to Improve Care
At UC Health, our Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians are active in research and the education of medical students, fellows, resident physicians and other health professionals through the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Improving outcomes for mothers and babies with research benefits our individual patients and society as a whole.
Individual High-Level Assessment, Advanced Diagnostics and Intervention
Each patient that comes to the UC Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine program gets a thorough individual assessment by a clinical panel of physicians. We deliver diagnoses and plans of care directly to you, with compassion and honesty, and we encourage your family to attend consultations with you. The assessment includes:
- Diagnostic testing, fetal assessment
- Prenatal counseling, support services
- Recommendations for you and your family
- Fetal interventions, fetal surgery
- Postnatal care, long-term follow up
We address the full spectrum of conditions with the most current diagnostic capabilities. Treatment programs include:
- High-risk pregnancy management
- Genetic and prenatal counseling
- Management of fetal arrhythmias (heart rhythm irregularities)
- Preventive therapies
- Intrauterine transfusion (delivering blood to the baby)
- Fetal shunt therapy (relieving pressure on the baby’s organs)
Our fetal surgical interventions include:
- Minimally invasive fetoscopic surgery (operating on the baby using tiny instruments)
- Selective fetal laser procedures
- Radiofrequency ablation (removal of an abnormal growth)
- Open fetal surgery for rare and life-threatening conditions
- Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) procedures (to clear the baby’s airway)