An unexpected diagnosis during pregnancy can turn your world upside down. Coming to a place where you and your baby will get the advanced care you need can help.

Cardiac specialists at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Heart Institute diagnose and treat heart conditions during pregnancy as part of the Fetal and provide treatment to patients throughout childhood. During pregnancy and delivery, our specialized fetal cardiologists provide care for babies as part of the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida. Our involvement continues as our pediatric cardiologists in the Heart Institute can continue to provide care throughout childhood. 

What to Expect When You Visit the Fetal Heart Institute of Florida

A nurse navigator will help coordinate all your care. They connect you with all the cardiac specialists your baby may need and help you set up appointments.

During a visit with our fetal and pediatric cardiologists, we’ll review your primary obstetrician’s test results and perform a new fetal echocardiogram (echo). This is an ultrasound to see images of your baby’s heart.

You’ll then meet with a fetal cardiologist who explains the results in detail to help you understand your baby’s condition and decide on a treatment plan.

If we know your baby will need heart surgery soon after delivery, you’ll also meet with our pediatric heart surgeons during your prenatal care. They’ll be part of your care team throughout your pregnancy. The entire team meets monthly to review your baby’s progress and, if needed, update your delivery plan.

Our goal is for you to leave your first appointment with a plan and peace of mind. 

Collaborative Care Every Step of the Way

If your baby has additional health conditions, your nurse navigator will facilitate meetings with our Fetal Care Center specialists. They will plan your delivery and treatment for your baby after birth in close collaboration with the fetal cardiac team.

We understand the difficult emotions you may have while navigating the reality of an unexpected cardiac diagnosis. That’s why we offer a range of supportive services for you and your family. Your nurse navigator can connect you with the practical, emotional and spiritual assistance you may need during this challenging time. 

Pediatric Cardiac Treatment After Birth

When a baby is born, if they need surgery immediately or several months after birth, our cardiac care team is ready. Prior to performing the heart surgery, our team meets to review all the heart scans in detail and then plan each step of the upcoming surgery.

Our skilled team has the expertise to perform complex heart treatments that include:

• Cardiac ablation
• Cardiac anesthesia 
• Cardiac catheterization
• Congenital heart surgery
• Heart transplant
• Ventricular assist devices (VAD)

If your baby doesn’t need surgery right away, we may use medication or other treatments to manage their condition.

We encourage moms to deliver at Memorial Regional Hospital’s Family Birthplace because it’s just steps away from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. While you’re recovering from delivery, your baby will be nearby in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) or the Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which provides the highest level of critical care for seriously ill newborns.

Continuum of Pediatric Cardiac Care 

At Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Heart Institute, we can provide all the heart treatment your child needs for as long as they need it. As your child grows and develops, our pediatric cardiology team follows their progress through childhood, adolescence and even adulthood.

Learn more about our comprehensive pediatric cardiac care.