The MUSC Women’s Health Fetal Heart Program is part of the Advanced Fetal Care Center. If your unborn child has suspected or confirmed congenital heart disease, the Advanced Fetal Care Center has the expertise and experience to provide accurate diagnosis, detailed management recommendations, and coordination of care. Comprehensive and multidisciplinary care will be provided to both you and your baby in a family-centered environment. Our team works closely with a statewide network of obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine experts, pediatric cardiologists, and surgeons to ensure the highest quality care throughout pregnancy, during delivery, and after birth.
A congenital heart defect (CHD) is a heart problem that occurs while the heart is still developing and is present at birth. Defects can range from holes between heart chambers to more severe defects such as a heart chamber that did not develop.
Fetal ultrasounds are performed in most pregnant women to monitor fetal growth and to detect abnormalities. Congenital heart defects can be found during routine fetal ultrasounds. If your baby has potential risk factors, like a family history of heart disease, our fetal cardiologists can carefully examine your baby's heart.
At your appointment, you will have a fetal echocardiogram and possibly a high-risk maternal ultrasound.
If your baby is diagnosed with a heart defect, our team will discuss your baby’s condition, treatment options and long-term outlook. If there are other organs that are not normal, you will meet other doctors as well, to discuss potential options and management during and after your delivery.
If your baby has a complex heart defect that will require surgery in the first few weeks of life, we will make arrangements for you to deliver at MUSC so that your baby can receive highly specialized pediatric cardiac care immediately at birth. MUSC's Pediatric & Congenital Heart Center was ranked number four and achieved the top outcomes in the nation as ranked by U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals 2022 – 23 survey.
Our team will be there with you every step of the way to provide both clinical and support services to help you with newborn care and special family needs that may arise.
Frances Woodard, CPNP
Fetal and Single Ventricle Coordinator
Pediatric Cardiology
Ph: 843-792-3292
Fax 843-792-5878
klinefl@musc.edu
Advanced Fetal Care Center
Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
Medical University of South Carolina
10 McClennan Banks, Charleston, SC 29425
Ph: 843-985-1084
Fax: 843-792-9373
afccrn@musc.edu
