When you come to the Fetal Heart Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), you and your baby will have access to the most advanced imaging, world-class cardiac care and much more. Our expertise and state-of-the-art facilities allow us to offer the best in pediatric cardiac care.

A team approach to care

You and your baby will be cared for by a dedicated team of specialists, including our best pediatric cardiologists and best pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons. Our team also includes pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, nurses and a social worker, as well as CHOP's maternal-fetal medicine specialists and genetic counselors. Each member of our team has been specially trained to care for fetuses and their mothers. We also work closely with experts from the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment to provide seamless care for you and your baby.

The most advanced imaging

We use state-of-the-art technology in all of our exams, so you can trust that you and your baby are getting the best care available anywhere. Our expert team performs an average of more than 3,700 fetal echo studies each year. We are also one of the very few cardiac programs to offer early fetal cardiovascular imaging (EFCI). This allows us to diagnose heart problems as early as 12 weeks gestation. Early diagnosis allows valuable time to consider options and plan care.

Immediate answers

During your initial visit to the Fetal Heart Program, you will undergo a comprehensive evaluation that includes a fetal echocardiogram — a safe, noninvasive ultrasound. The fetal echocardiogram allows us to assess the structure and function of your unborn baby's heart.

Immediately following this test, you will meet with members of our team, including pediatric cardiologists with expertise in fetal heart care, nurses and a social worker. We will explain your baby's diagnosis and answer all of your questions. We will also outline treatment options to help you make the best decisions for your baby and your family.

As your pregnancy progresses, we will perform regular echocardiograms to monitor how your baby’s heart is developing and whether changes are occurring. This allows our team to best care for your baby’s precise needs. We’ll also stay in close contact with your obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) to plan the best delivery options and treatment for your baby.

A special delivery

Depending on your baby’s diagnosis, our team may recommend that you deliver in the Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit (SDU). The SDU is the world's first birth facility just for mothers carrying babies diagnosed with birth defects. Here, your baby will receive the highest level of care from the moment of birth. Our entire team is focused on providing excellent medical care for you and your baby and also on helping you experience the joy of your child’s birth despite a difficult situation.

The best treatment at the best time

For many babies born with a congenital heart condition, surgery or medical treatment is planned for after the baby’s birth. Other conditions can be treated before birth. Early diagnosis helps us decide the best treatment option for your baby. In our Fetal Heart Program, you will have access to the most advanced fetal treatment options, including catheter-based interventions. In a very few select cases, we also offer prenatal heart surgery.

The most experienced

We are the largest and most experienced comprehensive fetal heart program in the world. Pediatric heart surgeons at the Cardiac Center perform more than 850 cardiothoracic surgeries per year, and our outcomes are among the best. And because we are part of CHOP’s world-leading Cardiac Center, your baby will receive care from before birth through adulthood.