The Maternal Fetal Center

Our experienced board-certified and fellowship-trained maternal-fetal specialists have the expertise to address a wide range of concerns before, during and after pregnancy. Our team also includes a dedicated nurse navigator to help guide patients through every step of care.

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% of babies who will need early neonatal intervention. 

Why choose us?

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

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.

Valley Children’s Maternal Fetal Center is also a designated diagnostic center for the California Prenatal Screening Program, providing comprehensive screening and diagnostic tests as well as genetic counseling. Having more information through these tests can provide peace of mind or help prepare for any special attention your baby might need immediately after delivery.

Partnering with neonatal specialists

Valley Children’s Hospital offers Regional Level IV neonatal intensive care (NICU), the highest level of care available for newborns. We also operate a network of NICUs in other regional hospitals, providing opportunities for families with critically ill babies to receive treatment closer to home.

In a comparative database of NICUs nationally, Valley Children’s NICU ranks among the highest for severity of illness among babies with birthweight of 500 to 1,500 grams, yet we achieve more remarkable results in terms of survival and without severe complications compared to our peers.