Fetal Heart Resources For Parents and Families
The Fetal Heart Program brings together a multidisciplinary team to provide specialized expertise and supports all aspects of congenital heart diseases. Our team includes national and international leaders in fetal cardiology, perinatology, pediatric cardiology, neonatology, genetics, cardiac surgery, pediatric intensive care.
Support Groups
The social work team provides supportive counseling, community resource referrals and psychosocial assessments for patients. We have monthly support group meetings every last Thursday of every month for the families organize by our social workers.
Our goal is to provide support to parents and families by offering a chance to provide support to one another as well as guided support from the social worker. The group allows families to talk confidentially with each other about each others own personal journeys. At least every other group meeting will have a guest speaker to talk about their role in the heart program, to provide support and answer any questions the group may have. The parents and families are the guide for this group and the social worker is just there for support.
For more information please call or email Ashley Langmead at 410-328-6712 or alangmead@umm.edu.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Our PICU team provides care in the pre-operative time period for children with very complex heart disease and for all children after heart surgery or interventional procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, using state-of-art technology and evidence-based clinical guidelines. We use these guideline protocols to optimize and personalize the care we deliver to your child.
The most important part of the rounding team is our patients and their family. We encourage active participation by the family during rounds and during meetings and are physicians are always available to answer any question that you may have.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Babies with congenital heart disease who are born at the University of Maryland Medical Center are admitted to the NICU where care begins even before delivery. The Center for Advanced Fetal Care Fetal Heart Program Team includes a dedicated neonatologist who understands your baby and families specific needs.
During the prenatal period you and your family will have an opportunity to meet with one of our 17 neonatologists so that we can help you anticipate what to expect once your baby delivers, answers all your questions and provide you with a tour of our unit. At the time of delivery our fully-staffed neonatal resuscitation team will be present to provide immediate medical supervision and treatments, if needed, to help your baby transition from the womb.
Our neonatal team works closely with your baby's cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeon. Neonatal nutritionists, lactation specialists, social workers, physical and occupational therapists and case managers will provide a comprehensive care plan for you and your baby.
More Information & Appointments
For additional information, or to make an appointment, please contact the center for Advanced Fetal Care at 410-328-3865.