If you’ve been told your developing or newborn baby has a neurological condition, you no doubt have many concerns and questions. You can count on the Fetal Care Center at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital for leading-edge care.

For babies with neurological conditions, we offer a fetal and neonatal neurology program. Our highly trained specialists can diagnose and treat critical issues before or shortly after birth so your baby can achieve their best health. We also have a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to care for critically ill babies after birth.

Neonatal Conditions We Treat

Our neonatal neurologists can diagnose and treat a variety of conditions in infants, including:

• Brain injury or malformation in newborns
• Complications of prematurity
• Congenital (present at birth) neurological conditions 
• Congenital infections
• Hypotonia (decreased muscle tone)
• Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction often due to decreased blood flow or oxygen to the brain)
• Intraventricular hemorrhages (bleeding into spaces in the brain called ventricles)
• Neurogenetic disorders
• Neuromuscular disorders 
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Stroke 

Fetal and Neonatal Neurology Team

If your baby is born with a neurological condition or develops neurological symptoms after birth, we intervene immediately. Prompt treatment can significantly affect a baby’s chances of survival, overall health and long-term development. We aim to prevent brain injury and promote brain development.

Depending on your baby’s unique needs, we build a team of subspecialists. The team may include: 

• Interventional neuroradiologists
• Pediatric epilepsy specialists
• Neurologists for special testing
• Pediatric neurosurgeons
• Pediatric ophthalmologists
• Child life specialists

The team may recommend medications, procedures to minimize damage, special tests, surgery or various types of therapy. We regularly monitor your baby throughout their stay at the NICU and through discharge. Before you and your baby go home, we connect you with the necessary specialists to care for your baby long-term.

Neonatal and Fetal Neurology Care

If you’re pregnant and your obstetrician or maternal-fetal medicine doctor suspects a neurological condition, you can consult with our specialists before birth.

A prenatal consultation is critical. There are some interventions we can perform before your baby is born or shortly after birth to maximize their chances of survival and long-term health. We also can counsel your family on what to expect and better prepare you and your healthcare team for your delivery and needs immediately after birth.

Your fetal neonatologist remains involved in your newborn’s care through birth and when your baby is in the NICU. They’ll help you understand your baby’s condition and needs.

Fetal and Neonatal Neurology: Why Choose Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital?

When you come to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital for fetal and neonatal neurology care, you’ll find:

• Immediate intervention: A newborn’s brain develops rapidly. We identify issues and intervene quickly to protect your baby’s health and preserve as much function as possible. Early intervention can also increase their chances of survival.
• Experienced specialists: Our fetal and neonatal neurologists are board certified and fellowship trained to identify and treat neurological conditions in fetuses and newborns. They have many years of training in neonatology and neonatal neurology, with extensive experience diagnosing and treating complex issues in babies.
• Multidisciplinary team: Our neonatal neurologists work closely with pediatric neurologists, neurosurgeons and other specialists depending on your baby’s needs. We have access to a wide range of pediatric subspecialists in-house. 
• Continuous care: Before you and your baby go home, you are connected to pediatric specialists. These doctors continue to monitor and treat your baby as long as necessary as they grow and change — and their condition changes with them. 
• Welcoming environment: Our child life specialists create a welcoming environment for children and families so that the hospital experience is less scary. We have amenities and family areas to make your time here as comfortable and soothing as possible. You’re welcome to stay with your child as much as you’d like. We offer an on-campus Conine Clubhouse as a special home away from home.