The Fetal Care Program at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital offers the most advanced care between Seattle and San Francisco. We give you and your family the best possible care for defects and disorders found before birth. We are the only program in the Pacific Northwest where you and your baby stay together—through diagnosis, delivery, recovery and beyond.

You’ll find:

• Team-based care from top experts in maternal, fetal and newborn medicine.
• The latest tests for early, accurate diagnosis.
• Advanced minimally invasive procedures in the womb, including treatment for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
• The region’s largest team of specialists in complex children’s conditions.
• Support, counseling and resources throughout your pregnancy.

Conditions we treat

It’s hard to wait for answers about the health of your baby. That’s why our specialists will work together to evaluate your baby and provide information and care as soon as possible. We’ll work with you to create the right care plan for you and your family.

The most common conditions we see include:

• Heart defects
• Brain anomalies
• Spina bifida and other neural tube defects
• Abdominal wall defects
• Chromosome and genetic disorders
• Bone, muscle and joint problems
• Organ and gastrointestinal anomalies
• Tumors and other masses
• Twin-twin transfusion syndrome
• Other twin pregnancy complications
• Fetal anemia (low levels of red blood cells)
• Cleft lip and palate

Our excellence

U.S. News & World Report recognizes Doernbecher as a top children’s hospital in six specialties, including neonatology (newborn care).

Our fetal care team will give you and your baby first-rate care, including:

Unmatched expertise: We have Oregon’s largest and most experienced team of fetal specialists. Our team includes national experts in:

• Maternal-fetal medicine
• Genetics
• Fetal imaging
• Fetal heart care
• Fetal surgery
• Newborn intensive care

Extensive experience: We see about 350 pregnant women a year. We offer the most experience in the region for rare and complex fetal conditions.

Advanced technology and techniques: We offer the latest tests and minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat your baby in the womb.

What to expect

Doctors usually see the first signs of a fetal condition during a routine ultrasound. But they often lack the expertise or technology to tell you exactly what’s wrong.

That’s where we come in. When you are referred to Doernbecher’s Fetal Care Program, we’ll tell you as much as we can, as soon as we can.

You can expect:

• A call from a nurse within two to three days of your referral. The nurse will coordinate your care and answer your questions.
• Your first tests and doctor visits all on one day.
• Comprehensive lab and genetic testing services.
• Time to talk with your care team about your diagnosis and what it means for you and your family.
• Support during difficult decisions.
• Support from the nurse coordinator throughout your pregnancy and delivery.
• Advice on travel and where to stay if you live far away.

Learn more

• OHSU family planning services, including abortion care 
• Resources for Women & Families, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Prenatal Care, March of Dimes
• Finding Support for Families Living with Birth Defects, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Birth Defects, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Support Groups, Birth Defect Research for Children
• Support for Patients and Families, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
• Genetic Counseling, Support and Advocacy Groups Online, National Human Genome Research Institute
• Find a Patient Organization, National Organization for Rare Diseases
• Ending a Wanted Pregnancy, a parent group that provides education, resources and support