The Perinatal Cardiology Program is a unique branch of the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
It consists of:
- Fetal cardiology.
- Maternal cardiology.
- Neonatal cardiology.
We provide care mainly at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.
What is Fetal Cardiology?
Fetal cardiology involves checking the fetus for signs of congenital heart diseases (CHDs). It helps doctors manage heart function in babies who may be at a risk for problems even though the heart's structure is normal.
The fetal cardiology program at UPMC Children's and UPMC Magee-Womens is one of the busiest in the world. We perform about 1,800 fetal echocardiograms each year. Since the start of the program in 1988, we have provided fetal cardiac exams for tens of thousands of pregnant women.
Why would my doctor order a fetal echocardiogram?
Fetal echocardiograms may be ordered for many reasons, such as:
- A routine prenatal ultrasound discovered possible heart, kidney, brain, or bone abnormalities.
- A sibling or other close relative was born with a congenital heart defect or other heart condition.
- Alcohol abuse during pregnancy.
- Maternal health conditions, including diabetes, phenylketonuria, or a connective tissue disease, such as lupus.
- Rubella during pregnancy.
- Suspected chromosomal or genetic abnormality.
Our fetal cardiology team works daily with staff from:
- High-risk obstetrics.
- Neonatology.
- Reproductive genetics.
- Ultrasound.
The team meets monthly with doctors from:
At what week does fetal cardiac activity start?
The heart starts to develop at around 22 days or three weeks into pregnancy, often before you even know you're pregnant.
- Fetal cardiac activity typically starts at about five to six weeks of gestation.
- Fetal heartbeat can be seen on ultrasound at about six to seven weeks.
- Fetal heartbeat can be heard on a Doppler device at about 10 to 12 weeks.
Through our advanced technology and expertise, we can diagnose major fetal heart problems as early as 16 weeks' gestation — less than 10 weeks after fetal cardiac activity begins.
And new techniques are now in development that will help us make precise diagnoses even earlier.
What is Maternal Cardiology?
Maternal cardiology involves the cardiovascular health of pregnant people. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, and pregnant women with heart disease pose a higher risk of cardiovascular disease for themselves and their children.
What are the most common cardiac problems in pregnancy?
Hypertension (high blood pressure), preeclampsia, maternal coronary artery disease, and congenital heart disease are the most common cardiac problems in pregnant people. Having these cardiac issues during pregnancy can contribute to problems in the fetus or newborn.
What is Neonatal Cardiology?
Neonatal cardiology is the assessment and management of full-term and premature newborns with heart defects.
The neonatal heart program at UPMC Children's and UPMC Magee diagnoses and treats:
- Congenital (present at birth) heart diseases (CHDs).
- Heart function in very sick newborns.
Neonatal cardiology requires close teamwork between pediatric cardiologists and neonatologists (newborn specialists) in both critical care and research.
What Should I Expect at a Fetal Cardiology Appointment?
Fetal cardiology appointments are typically scheduled through a referral from your obstetrician. You can expect to meet with a pediatric heart doctor and their care team to discuss symptoms, risk factors, and expectations.
A pediatric cardiologist or specially trained sonographer will do a fetal echocardiogram to check your baby’s heart.
After the echocardiogram, you will meet with the heart doctor to discuss the results.
What if my baby has a heart defect?
If the fetal echo detects an abnormality in your baby's heart, our heart health experts will do their best to provide precise details on the diagnosis and treatment. We'll explain all the options and help create a plan for more testing and delivery. Then we'll stay in close contact with your obstetric team until your baby arrives.
We may refer you to the Heart Institute at UPMC Children's for:
We may also refer you to:
- Centers for Advanced Fetal Diagnostics (CAFD).
- Genetics.
- Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM).
We also offer a host of support services for parents facing the diagnosis of CHD in their child.
Contact Us for Fetal Heart Care
For appointments and consults with the Fetal and Perinatal Cardiology Program, call 412-641-4304.
To refer a patient, complete the patient referral form and fax it to 724-786-7735.
