Valley Children's Maternal Fetal Center
One place for an unmatched depth and breadth of specialized treatment
If your pregnancy has suddenly changed from normal to complex, you want to make sure you have the right experts by your side. With advanced technologies and the most inclusive team of board-certified physicians in Central California, Valley Children’s Maternal Fetal Center provides the highest level of care for pregnant moms before, during and after delivery.
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists are highly trained in complex pregnancies. Our physicians treat moms with health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, advanced maternal age, seizure disorders, bleeding, early labor or other health complications. We provide care for unborn babies that may have a birth defect and can identify 80-90 percent of babies who will need early neonatal intervention.
Why Choose Us?
Valley Children’s is committed to providing all the care you and your baby need right here in the Central Valley. With a broad spectrum of board-certified physicians and subspecialists, Valley Children’s Maternal Fetal Center brings a variety of experts on maternal-fetal medicine together in one place.
We are proud to specialize in and provide resources to our patients, including:
- Advanced Prenatal Diagnostic Technologies: We utilize the most advanced diagnostic options, including fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasounds and 3D imaging to provide correct prenatal diagnoses.
- Care of High-Risk Pregnancies: From prenatal diagnosis to delivery and genetic testing to surgeries, our team is prepared to support mom through the entire pregnancy.
- Comprehensive Genetic Services: We work closely with Valley Children’s Medical Genetics and Metabolism department for services including coordinating diagnostic procedures, prenatal genetic testing (such as carrier screening and cell-free fetal DNA testing) and genetic counseling. We are also a California State Prenatal Diagnosis Center.
- High-Risk Transport: For patients far from our main hospital in Madera, the Valley Children’s team coordinates emergency transport throughout our 45,000 square-mile service area. Once a patient is admitted in labor or for delivery, our team of OBs with ample experience performing high-risk deliveries assist during the process and communicate continuously with both the patient and their primary provider.
- Multidisciplinary Expertise: Our service teams work together so patients have access to a full spectrum of care. Whether a newborn needs to be treated in the NICU or for fetal therapeutic procedures, our Maternal Fetal Center coordinates care with our pediatric specialists.
- Evidence-based Research Driven Expertise: Our physicians are committed to the most up-to-date procedures and research in order to provide the most optimal outcomes for every patient.
What is a high-risk pregnancy?
A high-risk pregnancy is when there is an increased risk for either the pregnant mother, the unborn baby or sometimes both. There are certain factors and health conditions that can make a pregnancy high risk, including:
- Women who are the extremes of maternal age (less than 16 or older than 35)
- Pre-existing maternal illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney and heart disease
- Fetal amniotic and genetic abnormalities
- Abnormal fetal growth
- Abnormal amounts of amniotic fluid
In order to reduce the chance of complications, these pregnancies are closely monitored from the moment of being identified as “high-risk” through delivery. Valley Children’s works closely with the patient’s primary OB to provide second opinions, maternal and fetal testing, intrauterine therapeutic procedures and, when requested, high risk prenatal care and delivery.