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Sarah's son ventricular septal defect

Fetal Heart Program

Fetal heart diagnosis and care during pregnancy at the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida

CALL US: 954-265-3437 Our Providers

Hearing your baby’s heartbeat is a precious pregnancy milestone. However, if you learn that your baby’s heart isn’t developing properly, you need leading-edge care.

Your baby’s heart is in capable hands at the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida. Our fetal cardiologists are trained to meet the unique challenges of diagnosing and treating fetal heart conditions.

From the moment you learn your baby may have a heart defect, we’re here for you. We’ll help you navigate this unexpected diagnosis throughout your pregnancy, during delivery and after your baby is born. 

Fetal Heart Conditions We Treat

The fetal cardiology team at the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida has the expertise to treat all types of congenital heart disease (CHD). Our specialized care and treatments improve your baby’s chance for a successful outcome after birth.

We treat fetal heart conditions, from the most common to the most complex, including:

Structural Heart Defects
  • Aortic stenosis, an obstruction in the aortic valve
  • Complete atrioventricular canal defect (CAVC), a hole in the heart that affects how blood is routed
  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), the left ventricle and other structures on the left side of the heart are too small
  • Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a hole in the aorta doesn’t close after birth
  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole in the wall between the heart’s upper chambers that fails to close after birth
  • Pulmonary atresia, the pulmonary valve doesn’t develop or is missing
  • Ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the wall separating the heart’s lower chambers
  • Ectopia cordis, part of the heart develops outside the chest cavity (a very rare condition)
Cardiac Arrhythmias and Heart Muscle Disease
  • Tachycardia, a too-fast heartbeat
  • Bradycardia, a too-slow heartbeat
  • Cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle doesn’t work properly, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood 
Other Congenital Heart Defects
  • Coarctation of the aorta (COA), a narrowing of the aorta
  • Interrupted aortic arch (IAA), part of the aorta fails to develop
  • Tetralogy of Fallot, a combination of four structural issues that prevent blood from flowing through the heart properly
  • Total anomalous pulmonary venus return (TAPVR), the pulmonary veins don’t connect to the heart as they should
  • Transposition of the great vessels, the positions of the aorta and pulmonary artery are switched

Why Choose the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida?

Our fetal heart specialists provide exceptional care for you and your baby to ensure successful outcomes for both of you. When you come to us during pregnancy, you can expect:

  • Early, accurate diagnosis: As soon as your obstetrician suspects a fetal heart condition, you need a definitive diagnosis and action plan. We aim to see you and perform fetal heart diagnostic testing as soon as possible. We’ll help you understand the diagnosis and ensure that you and your baby get the care you need. 
  • Advanced testing techniques: We use sophisticated imaging, including fetal echocardiogram, fetal cardiac MRI and fetal MRI, to accurately diagnose congenital heart conditions. Our team performs a high volume of these tests, giving us the experience and expertise you need. 
  • Collaborative approach: When you come to the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida, you benefit from an entire team of cardiac specialists. Multiple doctors read and review your baby’s test results to verify the most accurate diagnosis. 
  • Practical and emotional support for you and your family: Navigating an unexpected diagnosis can feel overwhelming. You may have to adjust your expectations or make difficult treatment decisions. We understand these challenges and offer supportive services to help you cope. We provide counseling, palliative care and more to ensure you never feel alone during this stressful time. 
  • Convenient care, close to home: Our team at the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida work closely with specialists located throughout South Florida. This collaboration enables you to access top-notch care no matter where you live and still benefit from the expertise of our team. 
  • Continuum of care after birth: Often, babies born with heart problems require ongoing treatment. Our pediatric cardiologists care for your baby’s changing needs throughout childhood. Your child’s care extends into adulthood through Memorial Healthcare System’s Adult Congenital Heart Program. Learn more about cardiac care we provide at birth and beyond.

Collaborative Care With the Fetal Care Center

If your baby has additional health concerns, we partner with specialists within our Fetal Care Center. The fetal care team includes experts from numerous specialties, including general surgery, neurology, nephrology, genetics, gastroenterology, orthopedics, palliative care and more. Learn more about all specialists involved in the Fetal Care Center.

If your baby is diagnosed with a complex fetal condition that involves multiple specialists, they receive all the care they need in one place. Your team will work together to develop a plan for your pregnancy, delivery and any treatment your baby may need after birth.

When it’s time to deliver, we recommend Memorial Regional Hospital Family Birthplace because it’s steps away from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. If your baby needs advanced care our Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and cardiac ICU (CICU) are nearby, so you and your family don’t have to be separated from your newborn.