Conditions treated by Fetal Care Services
Abdominal Wall Abnormalities
When an infant has a birth defect that involves an opening in the abdomen, this is known as an abdominal wall abnormality or abdominal wall defect.
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome
BWS is a genetic condition caused by abnormal gene regulation. It can cause premature birth, low blood sugar, abdominal problems, and macroglossia (enlarged tongue).
Birth Defects and Congenital Anomalies
Any unusual physical feature or health problem that is present at the birth of a baby is known as a birth defect or a congenital anomaly.
Cleft Lip and/or Palate
A cleft lip and/or palate is characterized by the presence of a gap (split) in the lip and/or palate seen at birth when the tissues of the lip and/or palate don't come together at all, or come together only part of the way.
CLOVES Syndrome
CLOVES syndrome is a very rare congenital disorder that is characterized by the presence of several problems together.
Clubfoot
Clubfoot is a medical condition in which an infant’s foot or feet are turned inward, either to the side or almost facing upward.
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
The diaphragm is the muscular boundary that helps separate the contents of the chest from those of the abdomen. When there’s a hole within the diaphragm of a growing fetus while it’s in the mother’s womb, this is known as a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or CDH.
Congenital Hand Malformation
Any problem with the hands that develops in a fetus while it’s still in the uterus is known as a congenital hand malformation.
Congenital Heart Defects/Disease
Any unusual physical feature or health problem that is present at the birth of a baby is known as a birth defect or a congenital anomaly.
Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome
If a fetus’s upper airway becomes blocked during intrauterine development, the problem is called congenital high airway obstruction syndrome, or CHAOS.
Congenital Limb Differences
Any kind of problem with how an arm or leg develops in the fetus can be classified as a congenital limb defect.
Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM)
CPAM is one or more non-cancerous lumps or cysts of abnormal lung tissue usually prenatally diagnosed with US during pregnancy.
Craniofacial Abnormalities
Craniofacial is a broad medical term that describes abnormalities of the bones of the skull and face.
Craniofacial Microsomia
Please see Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum for further information.
Craniosynostosis
When a baby has craniosynostosis, one or more of the bones of the skull are joined together by bone prematurely. This leads to problems depending on which, and how many sutures may have closed early.
Down Syndrome
Babies with down syndrome have an extra full or partial piece of chromosome 21, this causes a variety of physical abnormalities. It is the commonest chromosomal disorder in the USA.
Encephalocele
An encephalocele is a rare disorder where the bones of a fetus's skull do not close all the way resulting in a space through which the tissues surrounding the brain and brain tissue itself bulges.
Gastroschisis and Omphalocele
Gastroschisis and omphalocele are both part of a relatively uncommon group of birth defects that involve an opening or hole in the abdominal wall, frequently on the right side of the belly button.
Genetic Diseases
Genetic diseases are conditions that occur due to a mutation in a gene in the body’s cells.
Hemolytic Disease
Hemolytic disease of the newborn is a condition that occurs when a mother’s blood type is not compatible with her unborn fetus.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is primarily an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. There are many cause of hydrocephalus, which can be congenital or acquired in nature. In some children, the cause remains unknown.
Hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis is a condition where one or both kidneys swell either because of a blockage/obstruction of urine flow or because of reverse urine flow from the bladder.
Hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice
Bilirubin is a yellow compound that forms when red blood cells are broken down. A newborn/premature baby breaks down their red cells faster and with a liver that's immature, cannot get rid of all the bilirubin produced. When this normally builds up, the baby's eyes and skin become yellow - this is called hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is one of the most complex cardiac defects seen in newborns.
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
When a baby has trouble digesting certain foods and turning them into energy, it
could be due to inborn errors of metabolism.
Intestinal Atresia, and Stenosis and Intestinal Cysts
Intestinal atresia, is a type of birth defect, refers to a complete block in an area of the intestines of a baby. It occurs when the intestines aren’t formed properly.
Macroglossia
Macroglossia is the medical term for when a child is born with an enlarged tongue. It is one of the most common features of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome.
Mediastinal Teratoma
A mediastinal teratoma is a large mass that grows in the area between the two lungs.
Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney
Multicystic dysplastic kidney is a common birth defect in which a baby’s normal kidney tissue (usually only on one side) is replaced by many cysts.
Myelomeningocele
A myelomeningocele is a bulge or sac of the fluid that surround the spinal cord. Spina bifida refers to the specific gap in the bony spinal column that protects the spinal cord.
Neural Tube Defects
A neural tube defect is a birth defect that occurs very early in the development of a fetus, often during the first month of pregnancy, where the brain, spinal cord and spinal column do not develop normally.
Neurogenetic–Neurometabolic Abnormalities
Neurogenetic and neurometabolic abnormalities are disorders that affect how the brain ( and/or other organs) function.
Periventricular Leukomalacia
Periventricular leukomalacia is a brain disorder occurring in prematurely born babies which is characterized by brain damage with softening and death of the inner part of the brain.
Pierre Robin Sequence
Pierre Robin Sequence describes a series of characteristics in newborns which include a small or set back lower jaw, displacement of the tongue to the back of the throat, cleft palate and airway obstruction which leads to difficulty with breathing.
Sacrococcygeal Teratoma
A sacrococcygeal teratoma is a tumor containing a number of different tissues (fat, bone, nerves etc.) that is present at birth in the tailbone of the newborn baby.
Single Ventricle Heart Defects (SVD)
The ventricles are two of the hearts' four chambers. When a baby is born with only one of the ventricles functioning properly or missing, this is called "single ventricle defect".
Spina Bifida
Please see Myelomeningocele for further information.
Tetralogy of Fallot
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a heart condition of several defects present at birth that occur due to abnormal development of the heart during pregnancy.
Transposition of the Great Arteries
Transposition of the great arteries is a heart condition that is present at birth due to abnormal development of the fetal heart during pregnancy, in which the two major arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs and the body are wrongly connected.
Treacher Collins Syndrome
Treacher Collins is a genetic disorder that impacts how the face develops. Specifically, it can cause abnormal development of the jaws, ears, eyelids and cheekbones.
Ureterocele
The ureters connect the kidneys to the bladder and allow urine to pass through. When swelling occurs near the bottom of a ureter where it connects with the bladder, this is known as ureterocele.
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding
When there is a lack of Vitamin k blood doesn't clot and bleeding results.