Fetal Heart Disease Program

In most pregnancies, heart defects can be identified before a baby is born. When this happens, fetal cardiologists from our Fetal Heart Disease Program develop a treatment plan that harnesses the expertise of doctors across various specialties. Everyone works together toward one goal: meeting your baby’s health needs before and after birth.

The Fetal Heart Disease Program is part of the Pediatric Congenital Heart Program at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. Our imaging experts offer the most advanced ultrasound testing, starting in the first trimester of pregnancy in certain situations. Our doctors perform more than 2,000 fetal echocardiograms per year to provide early diagnosis of congenital heart defects.

The fetal heart team assesses the medical and surgical needs of a mother and her baby before birth to prepare an individualized care plan for when the baby is born. High-risk pregnancies are discussed at monthly multidisciplinary meetings that include fetal cardiologists, maternal–fetal medicine physicians, and neonatologists.

When a heart defect is identified that requires immediate treatment after birth, parents often choose to deliver their baby at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital or NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. This gives them access to care from the entire fetal heart team. The team is often present at the birth, allowing for early recognition and treatment of any changes in the baby’s condition, with the goal of ultimately ensuring better outcomes during and after birth.

Contact Us

To schedule an appointment for a fetal echocardiogram, please call 212-263-5940.