Why choose the Wood Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment

Why choose the Wood Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment

The moment you learn a baby is on the way, you want the very best for your child. Here, at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, you’ll find an unmatched level of care for babies with prenatally diagnosed birth defects. Every day, we search for new ways to help families facing these conditions. We strive to offer hope for a better future for all children with birth defects. The following factors are important when deciding on the best fetal treatment center for you and your baby.


Experience and expertise

The leaders of our center helped establish fetal care as it exists today. Our multidisciplinary team has been together since 1995. We are recognized worldwide for our skill, compassion and excellent outcomes. Each member of our team plays a special role and puts their heart and soul into supporting your family.

We have experience treating some of the most complex fetal anomalies in the world. Many of the conditions we see are very rare. Most physicians only see one or two cases like them in their entire career. Our team sees these complex conditions every day. This level of experience leads to the best possible outcomes.

We are one of the most active maternal-fetal centers in the nation. The volumes and depth of research shown below are proof of our expertise and experience:

  • We have a high volume of patients. Since 1995, we've cared for more than 33,356 expectant parents from all 50 states and 70 countries.
  • Our team has performed more than 2,397 fetal surgeries, more than any other program in the world.
  • Our team members have more than 750 years of combined research experience.
  • More than 500 articles about our research and discoveries have appeared in medical journals.
  • Our center co-led the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS). Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most serious form of spina bifida. MOMS was a groundbreaking clinical trial that proved that fetal repair of MMC can lead to better outcomes than repair after birth.
  • Researchers at the center are looking into using stem cell and gene therapies to treat specific birth defects before birth.
  • We have one of the largest teams of full-time prenatal genetic counselors who are dedicated only to fetal patients. These specialists work with families to assess risk factors, do genetic testing and find answers about their prenatal diagnosis. We have done more than 17,000 genetic tests since 1995. We have discovered seven new genes. We are better at identifying and diagnosing really rare genetic disorders than most places. This can help guide the treatment and planning of future pregnancies.

Types of birth defects, by percentage and number, referred to the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (CFDT) at CHOP (1995 - January 2024). Congenital heart disease is evaluated by the Fetal Heart Program, in collaboration with the CFDT.

Choosing a Treatment Center

Know what questions to ask when considering fetal surgery so you can make an informed decision that is right for you and your baby.

Coordinated care in one location

Going to a maternal-fetal center that's located within a pediatric hospital offers many benefits. It gives you access to complete, family-centered care in one location. We support you every step of the way. From diagnosis and genetic counseling to prenatal management and fetal surgery to delivery and care after birth.

Being cared for within one of the top-ranked and largest children's hospitals in the United States means you have direct access to highly qualified pediatric experts in every specialty your child might need after birth.

Our vast experience makes us uniquely qualified to help you get the answers you need to make the best decisions for your family.

Here is what you can expect from us:

  • Advanced fetal diagnosis. Our experienced team uses the most advanced diagnostic equipment. We are specially trained to identify rare fetal anomalies. Learn about our fetal imaging capabilities.
  • Detailed genetic testing and counseling. Our team can review any existing genetic screenings and answer your questions about them. We provide a deeper level of evaluation that can guide the next steps. We can also recommend additional genetic testing.
  • The world’s first birthing unit dedicated to mothers of babies with known birth defects. CHOP’s Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit (SDU) is indeed a special place. We have the team and all the equipment necessary to manage the delicate care you and your baby need before, during and after delivery.
  • A dedicated Fetal Heart Program for babies prenatally diagnosed with congenital heart disease. After birth, babies are taken to CHOP's Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Our Cardiac Center is one of the world's top pediatric heart programs.
  • An experienced fetal surgery team. We're one of only a few centers in the world to offer open fetal surgery for life-threatening conditions. We also offer other fetal therapies, including minimally invasive fetoscopic surgery.
  • Excellence in every pediatric specialty. CHOP is consistently ranked among the best children's hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This means your child will receive some of the best care available in the country.
  • Expert newborn and infant care. After delivery, your baby will continue to receive specialized care in CHOP's Harriet and Ronald Lassin Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit (N/IICU). This unit is one of the biggest and best in the nation. CHOP’s neonatal specialists are amazingly skilled at caring for babies who have had fetal surgery, babies with birth defects, and babies who are critically ill or need immediate care after birth. Our Neonatal Surgical Team is especially unique. This team can perform delicate surgery immediately after a baby is born if needed. 
  • Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment: A Tour

    Shelly: Learning your baby has a birth defect can be overwhelming. The journey ahead may seem unclear, and the fear of the unknown can be incredibly difficult. Know that you are not alone.

    My name is Shelly and I’m from Massachusetts, and I was a patient of the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia or CHOP. Take it from me, the team at CHOP has walked this road with many families before, and they will help you through your journey too. Since 1995, the Center’s Team has cared for more than 27,000 parents like you from all 50 states and over 70 countries. They see rare and complex fetal conditions every day. At your first visit, the team will help ease your fears by providing answers and creating a plan forward. This video will help you feel more comfortable about what to expect when you arrive.

    It will be a very full day with a lot of information so it's important to make arrangements for any siblings in advance. The day will be focused on you, your baby, and your support person. Safety is a priority. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has put every precaution in place to keep you and your family safe.

    When you arrive, your fetal therapy coordinator will go over the plan for the day. Because an accurate diagnosis is essential, this day will include a combination of tests to establish or confirm your baby’s diagnosis using the most advanced imaging equipment.

    The center’s team has the world’s greatest experience in prenatal diagnosis and care with babies of birth defects. Your fetal ultrasound and fetal echocardiogram happen just a few steps from the waiting room. If you’re getting an ultra-fast fetal MRI, your fetal therapy coordinator will guide you to where you need to be. Your fetal therapy coordinator will be with you throughout the day.

    I’ll never forget our fetal therapy coordinator from that first day, and how cared for she made us feel. Every detail of the center’s space has been designed with your medical and emotional well-being in mind. Patient care rooms are private and warm to make you as comfortable as possible.

    The team members you may meet during your evaluation include: maternal fetal medicine specialists and a reproductive geneticist, a fetal and pediatric surgeon and a genetic counselor. Depending on your unborn baby’s diagnosis, you may also see other pediatric specialists that day. The center also has a clinical psychologist, a psychiatrist, social workers, a child life specialist, and a chaplain, all there to provide emotional support, counseling and other services throughout your pregnancy. I remember how every staff member was sensitive to what we were going through, and treated us like family. They were willing to walk with us in our struggles, and were compassionate and encouraging at each and every step.

    At the end of your evaluation, the team will have reviewed the images to confirm the diagnosis. They will explain your baby’s condition in language you understand. Review options for the pregnancy, answer any questions, and provide you with the educational material about the prenatal diagnosis. A team will make sure you have the information and support you need to make the best decisions for you and your family. They will also partner closely with you and your home doctor to come up with the best plan for your care.

    If you learn your baby’s condition requires fetal surgery, you will be in the very best hands. This team has performed more fetal surgeries than any in the world.

    Most of the time your baby will be delivered at a hospital near your home with follow-up care provided there, or depending on your baby’s condition, delivery may take place in the Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit for healthy mothers carrying babies with birth defects or genetic conditions.

    What makes this labor and delivery unit so special is the individualized care and immediate access to the neonatal and surgical experts your baby may need. A team is made up of experienced labor and delivery nurses, specialty trained operating room nurses, and all attending level physicians. Whatever you need this team will be there. They not only provide the best medical care imaginable, they are also kind and caring people who are deeply committed to every one of their patients, and I speak from experience.
Transcript Transcript

A supportive environment

From the first phone call, we coordinate all of your treatment. We offer caring counseling and comprehensive support services.

Supportive services include:

  • Our dedicated psychosocial service team, including a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist and social workers, provides emotional support, individualized and couple's counseling, supportive therapy and social work services.
  • We work closely with your physician to coordinate care — many expectant mothers can be monitored at home during their pregnancies.
  • We offer a supportive community to families that includes a dedicated Child Life specialist during your stay in the Hospital, and an annual on-site reunion.
  • We are experienced working with insurance companies and other payers to ensure you and your baby have access to the best treatment options available.

Dedicated to an excellent patient and family experience

For four years in a row, our Center has been recognized for providing an excellent patient experience by Press Ganey, a healthcare company that evaluates patient satisfaction. In 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, we earned Press Ganey's Pinnacle of Excellence Award®. We are very proud of this award. It recognizes our ability to maintain consistently high levels of excellence over multiple years.