For Patients
Questions and Answers Related to Fetal Care and High-Risk Pregnancy
Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati maternal-fetal specialists provide information for patients and families involved with high-risk pregnancy and fetal anomalies. 
If you have additional questions, please contact the Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati, 1-888-338-2559.
What is the Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati?
We are a collaboration of three leading medical institutions, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital and The University Hospital, focusing on the care of moms and babies involved in high-risk pregnancies. We are the only comprehensive program located in the Midwest affiliated with a top 10 children's hospital, a top five university pediatric training program, two Level III (highest level) maternity hospitals, and three Level III (highest level) Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) for newborns.
The Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati is one of only three centers in the US to offer the full range of fetal surgical interventions.
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What does the Fetal Care Center do?
Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati maternal-fetal specialists provide families a single integrated program for the full continuum of care that may be required in high-risk pregnancies for mothers and babies. Our program includes evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mom and baby together in a caring, supportive and nurturing environment.
Maternal-fetal care includes:
- Diagnostic testing
- Fetal and maternal assessment
- Prenatal counseling and support services
- Recommendations for you and your OB / GYN or maternal-fetal care specialist
- Fetal surgery
- Postnatal care for you and your child
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How do I access the Fetal Care Center?
To contact the Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati, please call 1-888-FETAL59 or 1-888-338-2559.
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Where is the Fetal Care Center?
The Fetal Care Center is conveniently located in Cincinnati, Ohio, just 20 minutes from the Greater Cincinnati International Airport and within a one-day drive for more than 60 percent of the nation's population.
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Where will I receive care?
You and your baby will receive treatment at the specialized facilities within our three renowned medical institutions, which are located in close proximity to one another.
Mothers are evaluated and treated at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital or University Hospital, both Level III (highest level of expertise) maternity hospitals.
Diagnostic testing, open fetal surgery and fetscopic procedures are performed at Cincinnati Children's. Diagnostic testing and shunt procedures are performed at Good Samaritan Hospital or University Hospital. Babies are treated at Cincinnati Children's -- one of the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation.
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Will my insurance company cover the cost of my maternal-fetal care?
Your insurance plan will specify the level of coverage for your maternal-fetal care, and Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati staff will assist you and your insurance company.
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Can your maternal-fetal specialists diagnose and treat all abnormalities?
Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati maternal-fetal specialists evaluate, diagnose and treat all conditions for which treatments are available. For some conditions, treatments are not available.
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What is fetal therapy?
Fetal therapy is the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities and treatment of the fetus before birth. Fetal treatments have been found to help many abnormalities once considered untreatable or only treatable after birth, such as spina bifida and tumors.
Fetal therapy may not only save the life of the fetus, but it can also dramatically improve the abnormality. In many cases, fetal therapy improves the child's long-term quality of life.
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What happens during fetal therapy?
The Fetal Care Center's fetal therapy program begins with very accurate diagnoses. Due to the complexities of the abnormalities, as many as 30 percent of patients are referred to fetal therapy centers with an incomplete or incorrect diagnosis.
Once the correct diagnosis has been made, our team of maternal-fetal experts informs the mother and her family about all treatment options. Non-directive counseling and support are an important part of our program.
There are many ways to help improve the medical condition of a fetus with abnormalities through medical therapy or treatment. These therapies may include managing the pregnancy differently, drug therapy or preventive therapies.
In rare situations, fetal surgery is available to treat an abnormality so the baby can develop normally.
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When is fetal therapy needed?
As soon as a diagnosis is established, fetal therapy can begin or may occur at any point during the pregnancy.
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When is fetal surgery performed?
Fetal surgery is very rare and usually done to help keep detected abnormalities from becoming life-threatening health issues once the baby is born.
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What abnormalities can fetal therapy correct?
Fetal therapy has successfully corrected such conditions as spina bifida, tumors, diaphragmatic hernia, urinary obstruction and others. We evaluate, diagnose and treat many conditions.
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Who makes the decision as to what course of treatment is taken? The patient and patient families or the physicians?
Our interdisciplinary team of maternal-fetal specialists offers non-directive counseling to patients and families. This means we provide you with all of the information and options available so that you can make a knowledgeable decision on your own. We know this decision can be difficult and are happy to answer all of your questions and provide our time, support and assistance.
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Can I still see my regular OB / GYN?
Yes. We make your OB / GYN part of your caregiver team, keeping him or her closely informed throughout every step of evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
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