Fetal Care Program
The Fetal Care Program at University of Iowa Health Care provides dedicated, specialized support for patients and families who learn their baby may have a medical concern during pregnancy.
We offer advanced imaging, genetic testing, and high-risk pregnancy monitoring to guide your care. If you have an unexpected ultrasound finding or a positive genetic test result, we’ll help you understand what it means and walk with you through every step — before birth, during delivery, and after your baby arrives — so you never have to navigate the journey alone.
Our expert team of genetic counselors and maternal-fetal medicine specialists works closely with pediatric specialists across many areas to develop a personalized care plan for you and your baby. You can expect expert care delivered with respect, empathy, and a commitment to understanding what matters most to your family.
While many patients are referred to us by their providers, you’re also welcome to call us to request an appointment, schedule testing, or seek a second opinion.
Led by a maternal–fetal medicine geneticist who is uniquely trained in high‑risk pregnancy care and advanced genetic medicine, this program offers the highest level of expert, comprehensive support for you and your baby.
Expert, multidisciplinary care for you and your baby
Because families often travel from across Iowa for their appointment, we know how important it is to make every visit count.
That’s why our program brings together a wide range of prenatal and pediatric subspecialities in one location, including neonatology, cardiology, urology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, palliative care, and social work. Here, you can meet with the experts you need — often in the same visit — so you can get clearer answers, compassionate support, and a comprehensive care plan without multiple trips.
Our approach to care
Our team understands that receiving a prenatal diagnosis can feel overwhelming, frightening, or confusing. We’re here to give you the time, clarity, and support you need. During your visits, you can expect extra time for questions, clear and direct explanations of medical terms, and written resources to review at home.
Depending on your family’s needs, we can also connect you with additional support, such as counseling services, opportunities to talk with other parents who have faced similar diagnoses, help arranging hospital tours, and guidance with birth planning. Our goal is to ensure you feel informed, supported, and never alone in navigating your next steps.
Fetal Care Program tests
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
- Amniocentesis
- Cordocentesis
- Ultrasound
- Fetal MRL
- Fetal echocardiogram
Fetal Care Program conditions treated
- Duodenal atresia “double bubble”
- Ectopia cordis
- Pentalogy of Cantrell
- Limb body wall/body stalk anomaly
- Omphalocele/gastroschisis
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
- Heterotaxy syndrome
- Holoprosencephaly (HPE)
- Ventriculomegaly
- Arachnoid cyst/other cyst in brain
- Hydrocephalus
- Dandy Walker malformation
- Non-visualization of the cavum septum pellucidum (CSP)
- Agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC)
- Hypoplastic cerebellum
- Splayed cerebellum
- Absent/small vermis
- Cleft lip and/or palate
- Micrognathia
- Facial cleft
- Facial tumors/mass
- Abnormal skull shape (strawberry shaped, lemon shaped, cloverleaf)
- Fetal bradycardia
- Heterotaxy
- Situs inversus totalis
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
- Double outlet right ventricle (DORV)
- Double inlet left ventricle (DILV)
- Hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS)
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Transposition of great arteries/vessels (TGA)
- Truncus arteriosus
- Pulmonary stenosis/atresia
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Aortic stenosis
- Atrioventricular canal defect (AV canal)
- Ebstein’s anomaly
- Interrupted aortic arch
- Cardiomyopathy
- Rhabdomyoma
- Vascular ring/right aortic arch/double aortic arch
- Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM)
- Bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS)
- Ambiguous genitalia
- Enlarged bladder
- Bladder outlet obstruction/lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO)
- Posterior urethral valves (PUV)
- Absent kidney(s)
- Multicystic dysplastic kidney(s) (MCDK)
- Echogenic or enlarged kidneys
- Severe urinary tract dilation
- Hydroureter
- Bladder/cloacal extrophy
- Missing/extra limbs
- Absent bone
- Polydactyly
- Amniotic band syndrome
- Clubfoot
- Skeletal dysplasia
- Arthrogryposis Hemivertebrae
- Spina bifida
- Anencephaly/acrania Encephalocele
- Increased nuchal translucency
- Cystic hygroma
- Hydrops
- Oligohydramnios/anhydramnios
- Pleural effusion
- Pericardial effusion
- Ascites (fluid in abdomen)
- Lymphangioma
- Trisomy disorders
- Turner syndrome
- Microdeletion/microduplication syndromes
- Triploidy
- Neonatal thrombocytopenia
- Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT)
- Chorioangioma
Our Care Team
UI Health Care fetal care specialists offer the most advanced imaging and genetic testing available.