Learning you鈥檙e pregnant is an exciting moment. As you progress through your pregnancy and continue prenatal care, you may hear or learn things about your baby that could raise your concern. At BOB体育 Shands Children's Hospital, our expert physicians are well-trained in providing high-quality health care to expectant mothers and their unborn babies. Through our leading-edge technology and multidisciplinary approach, we support you and your baby's health every step of the way, from diagnosis, to prenatal care, through delivery and discharge home.
Our nurse navigators are well-equipped to support the health of mothers and babies, serving as a primary point of contact and patient advocate providing a personalized, worry-free experience while you navigate through a potentially complex health care journey.
The medical professionals at BOB体育 Shands Children鈥檚 Hospital are highly trained pediatric physicians from the areas of cardiology, surgery, maternal fetal medicine, neonatology, neurosurgery, genetic research and more than 20+ pediatric sub-specialties. Our team approach contributes to the best care and positive health outcomes of expectant mothers and their unborn babies who have been diagnosed with, or is believed to have a fetal anomaly health condition. If you鈥檙e looking for a second opinion from one of our experts, please call us to set up an appointment to discuss your personal options.
Appointments
Please choose one of the following phone numbers to schedule an appointment based on you and your baby鈥檚 health care needs.
For maternal fetal care, please call (352) 265-8200.
For pediatric cardiology, please call (352) 273-7770.
For neonatal-perinatal medicine, please call (352) 273-8985.
For pediatric neurosurgery, please call (352) 273-6990.
For pediatric surgery, please call (352) 265-8800.
"BOB体育鈥檚 interdisciplinary professionals involve patients鈥� families from the beginning, starting consultations before birth. Parents are kept informed about what to expect after birth, including details on the outstanding health care experience we provide while their newborn is in the neonatal intensive care unit. Just before discharge, our team will design personalized plans that include follow-up care and resources to support mother and baby鈥檚 ongoing care needs." - Josef Neu, MD, Neonatal-Perinatal Specialist
Why our approach to care is special
We will sit down with you and explain everything you need to know, to put your mind at rest and heart at ease. We will go through explanations of what findings there are, what they mean and could mean, and what can be done about them. We will sit down with you in consultation, explain procedures, and walk you through the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where your baby will be cared for. We do all of this to minimize the uncertainty of the process and to help make you feel as familiar as possible with what to expect.
Excellent care is at the heart of what we do, that鈥檚 why BOB体育 Shands Children鈥檚 Hospital is named as one of the nation鈥檚 best pediatric cardiology and heart surgery specialty programs according to the 2024-25 U.S. News & World Report Rankings.
University of Florida Health Shands Children鈥檚 Hospital has been verified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level 1 pediatric trauma center, one of fewer than 20 in the nation to earn the distinction. The verification means that the hospital meets the ACS鈥檚 highest standards for staff, resources and equipment to optimally handle a child鈥檚 life-threatening injuries.
What is a fetal anomaly?
Fetal anomaly is another word for birth defect and in some cases referred to as a congenital disorder. Many birth defects occur randomly and unfortunately not all birth defects can be prevented. While birth defects could be the result of one or more factors including genetic changes that occur in families or spontaneously, nutrition factors, environmental elements or uncontrolled health conditions, much is not known about the exact causes of birth defects.
Common birth defects include heart defects, cleft lip and cleft palate, neural tube defects and spina bifida.
Ways we diagnose birth defects
At BOB体育 Shands Children鈥檚 Hospital, our team of experts our experienced in managing pregnancies complicated by fetal birth defects. Our team can provide prenatal testing through a variety of techniques to identify birth defects including blood tests to assess the risk of certain abnormalities and ultrasounds to look for structural birth defects, which are physical abnormalities of a body part.
Our doctors are here to provide complete, high-quality and compassionate care to you and your family in order to improve the life of children born with birth defects.
How we care for birth defects
Besides what you see when you meet with us, rest assured that we are also working behind the scenes in a multidisciplinary approach to best care for your baby. Our team of clinical specialists, radiologists, pathologists, social workers, nutritionists and more will meet to discuss and provide the care your baby needs.
We are proud to show that our neonatology program, pediatric surgery program, maternal fetal medicine program and congenital heart center have earned awards and are nationally recognized for extraordinary care.
We care for a wide range of fetal anomaly conditions. Some of the fetal care diagnoses we specialize in are:
Spina bifida
Hydrocephalus
Tethered spinal cord
Hirschsprung鈥檚 Disease
Congenital deformity of feet
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Lung cysts and masses including congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) and bronchopulmonary sequestratians (BPS)
Abdominal wall defects including omphalocele and gastroschisis
Intestinal atresia
Patient testimonial
"Thank you to all of our daughter鈥檚 doctors who have helped her come thus far. Through their care, we are able to watch her grow daily and see her beautiful smile." - Anna L.
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