Pregnancy can be joyful and exciting, as you
look forward to how a baby will change your
life. But learning there is something wrong
with your baby can change all of that. You
might feel overwhelmed, wondering what will
happen. You probably have many questions,
and need someone who can answer them. That’s
why we’re here. The Colorado Fetal Care
Center offers hope and answers, 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. We’re available
immediately after diagnosis, for as long as
you need. Our team is devoted to helping moms
in situations like yours. We’ve pioneered
procedures, treatments and therapies that
have saved many lives. And we’ve built a
space just for moms, so you and your baby
can receive the most comprehensive care in
the same place. It is important to know that
not all fetal centers are the same, and the
amount of information you find online can
be overwhelming. We can help make it a little
easier by suggesting you ask these questions
as you look for the right center for you and
your baby. What does a first appointment look
like? When considering a center, you’ll
want one that is thoughtful about your time
and how they schedule your appointments. Look
for a center that tries to wrap all your appointments
into one day, rather than having you come
back to meet with each specialist. You’ll
also want a center that can offer you a wide
range of tests and treatments. We know how
important it is for you to meet your care
team as soon as possible. From your first
appointment with us, you will meet with your
multidisciplinary care team, from maternal
fetal medicine to cardiology to surgery, all
on the same day, in the same place. With you
as an important part of the care team, we
will review your tests, images and diagnosis,
and come up with one plan that is best for
you and your baby. Does the center perform
fetal surgery? The condition affecting your
child might require surgery before birth.
Only a handful of fetal care centers in the
country perform fetal surgery. When considering
a center, you’ll want one whose surgeons
can perform open surgery in utero. You will
also want to make sure their surgeon is onsite,
so that you receive the care you need when
you need it. Timing can be critical when it
comes to fetal surgery. We are available for
you and your baby 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. Our onsite fetal surgeons have performed
hundreds of surgeries and interventions, meaning
they’re equipped to treat virtually any
condition that might affect an unborn baby.
Does the center treat the most complex conditions?
When considering a center, you’ll want one
that can treat the most complex cases and
will not need to send your child elsewhere
if a situation becomes complicated. Our specialists
have treated so many babies that rare conditions
are common in our center. We specialize in
complex conditions such as congenital heart
disease, CDH and spina bifida. We are one
of only a few children’s hospitals in the
country with a labor and delivery unit. That
way, you can be close to your baby while you
recover. A mom who delivers with us will be
able to keep her baby’s care all under one
roof. Because the Colorado Fetal Care Center
is located inside Children’s Hospital Colorado,
your newborn will immediately transition to
our intensive care unit just down the hall
from your delivery room. Once there, your
baby will have a new care team of pediatric
specialists attending to their every need.
They are all experts in treating complex conditions
affecting newborns. Does your medical team
conduct research? A center with a robust research
program can offer the most advanced and effective
therapies and treatments. When considering
a center, you’ll want one with an active
research and innovation program. It is one
of our priorities to make groundbreaking discoveries
and innovations so we can continue to offer
the best solutions for complex conditions.
Our research has led to the most cutting-edge
treatments in the industry. We were the first
to use 3D printing in prenatal spina bifida
repairs, which has helped us achieve some
of the best outcomes in the country. We hope
you ask us about our ongoing studies, and
what that means for you and your family. When
researching fetal care centers, you might
come across numbers related to outcomes. Because
there is no consistent approach for reporting
outcomes, the way one place reports their
numbers might look different from another.
At the Colorado Fetal Care Center, we welcome
the opportunity to help you gather the right
data based on your situation. We will gladly
answer your questions and explain to you our
outcomes and how we report them. For example,
we have an 81 percent survival rate for all
CDH cases. We have a 97.3 percent survival
rate for cardiac surgery. And for twin-to-twin
transfusion syndrome, we have an 88 percent
survival rate for one or both twins. We encourage
you to also evaluate outcomes in postnatal
and long-term care, such as pediatric programs
like heart and breathing. No matter where
you seek care, we wish you, your baby and
your new family a bright future. To reach
the Colorado Fetal Care Center, call 855-41-FETAL
or visit us online.
