Institute for Fetal Health

When Macklin, was diagnosed with a serious abdominal defect before birth, Camron consulted with doctors to develop a treatment plan for her daughter after she was born. Read more.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, the Institute for Fetal Health provides prenatal consultation and pediatric care planning for pregnant women identified as carrying babies with birth defects or medical problems. (The conditions cited on these pages are only a sample of the many cared for by our specialists.)

Children's Memorial Hospital has been a leader in research and counseling for pregnant mothers for more than 30 years. Now thanks to rapid advances in imaging, genetics and the ability to diagnose fetal defects before birth, the need for these services is rapidly expanding. Children's Memorial staff members will work closely with the local obstetrical care team and the family pediatrician to plan the best care for the baby following delivery.

Leadership for the Institute is provided by Max Maizels, MD, and Marleta Reynolds, MD. Program coordination is provided by Christopher Talbot, MD. Pregnant women may be referred by their treating physician or may refer themselves with a single phone call to Dr. Talbot, at 773.975.8782. He will obtain the clinical information from the patient and her physicians, and confer with the medical directors of the program to determine the appropriate specialties for consultation. The coordinator will then arrange the consultations and collect laboratory and medical records from doctors who have useful information about the issues facing the pregnancy.

Consultations are usually conducted in person but occasionally may be held over the phone under special circumstances. The coordinator is available to assist the patient in all aspects of the consultation process.

Consultation services by some of the physicians involved may also be available at Children's Memorial's outpatient satellite offices in the Chicago area. Ask Dr. Talbot for details.

Specialties

Our comprehensive center encompasses the following medical and surgical specialties:

• Anesthesiology - When surgery at the time of birth is anticipated
• Cardiology - Heart and great vessels
• Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery - Correction of heart and great vessels
• Dermatology - Skin, hair and nails
Through our ParentWISE program, parents-to-be can often be put in contact with parent volunteers who have a child with similar medical problems and who can share their experience and offer support.
• Ear/Nose/Throat - Head and neck tumors, airway problems
• Endocrinology - Hormones and metabolism
• Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition - digestion, nutrition, liver function, and neonatal hemochromatosis
• Genetics, birth defects and metabolism - metabolic disorders and inherited conditions
• Hematology/Oncology - Blood and cancer
• Medical Imaging - Fetal MRI and sonogram for special visualization
• Rheumatology - Immune and musculoskeletal problems
• Infectious Disease - Infections affecting baby before birth
• Kidney Diseases - (Nephrology)
• Neonatology (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) - the care of critically ill newborns
• Neurology - Brain and nerve function
• Neurosurgery - Spine, brain, and skull
• Ophthalmology - Eye and socket
• Orthopedics - Bones, joints, and spine
• Pediatric Surgery - Neck, chest, abdomen and their contents
• Plastic Surgery - Cleft lip/palate, face and hand
• Pulmonary - Lung, cystic fibrosis
• Transplants - Heart, kidney, liver and stem cells
• Urology - Kidneys, bladder and external reproductive organs

Virtually all of the many surgical and medical specialties at Children's Memorial Hospital are available for prenatal consultation when problems have been identified. The program coordinator can answer questions about the scope of each specialty and the choice of consultants required.