Spina bifida is a congenital birth defect that happens within the first few weeks of pregnancy as the tissue that will become the baby’s brain and spinal cord is developing. This tissue is called the neural tube. Spina bifida happens when the neural tube fails to develop or close properly, leaving the spinal cord and… Read more »
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Along your pregnancy journey, you’ll meet many providers, specialists and care workers. One you may not be familiar with is the maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) doctors are OB-GYNs trained to care for pregnant women and their unborn children during pregnancies where the mother, baby or both are at high risk of complications. You… Read more »
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You walk through the doors of the high-risk pregnancy center your OB-GYN referred you to. The care team seems nice enough, but you can’t help feeling that your new team isn’t really listening to you. The doctor downplayed your symptoms, and you don’t think they’re a good fit. What should you do? Patient self-advocacy means… Read more »
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Treatment for a high-risk pregnancy can range from close monitoring and regular checkups to more specialized interventions, including medication. In the most severe situations, your maternal-fetal medicine provider may recommend fetal surgery. Let’s take a closer look at fetal surgery, what it is and how commonly it’s used. We’ll then highlight five things you might… Read more »
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Before ever meeting with Dr. Kevin Magee at Fetal Care Center Dallas, Megan DuBose wrote him a letter introducing herself and sharing her story. Looking back, Megan sees it as an act of desperation after years of medical trauma and heartbreak. But it was an act of hope, too. “I just wanted to lay it… Read more »
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“We’ve discovered something abnormal on your ultrasound. It’s called bronchopulmonary sequestration.” It’s something no expecting parents want to hear — and if they do, they’re likely reeling from the deluge of medical jargon, extra appointments and the seemingly endless swirl of unanswered questions. If your baby has received the Bronchopulmonary Sequestration diagnosis, or you just want… Read more »
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If you’re experiencing a high-risk pregnancy — especially if you’ve been told your amniotic fluid levels are low — you may have heard of amnioinfusion. But what is amnioinfusion, and how can doctors use this treatment to care for pregnant women and their babies? The term amnioinfusion can sound pretty intimidating — clinical, even —… Read more »
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Marita Graham was 19 weeks into her first pregnancy when she and her husband, Clayton, went in for a routine ultrasound. They were excited to find out their baby’s sex and to celebrate this new milestone along their journey toward parenthood. However, as the ultrasound technician did the scan, Marita and Clayton could tell something… Read more »
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If you’ve been diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy, you’ll most likely be scheduled to meet with a maternal fetal specialist. This first appointment can be a scary and stressful experience — but don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve put together some important questions for you to take to your appointment so you can feel confident… Read more »
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A congenital heart defect, or CHD, occurs when a baby’s heart doesn’t develop normally while in the womb. In honor of CHD Awareness Week and Heart Month, we’ve created this guide for mothers and families who want to learn more about the causes, effects and treatments for CHD. What Is a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD)?… Read more »
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