IMFH | About Us | Philosophy of Care
Expecting a baby is one of life’s most thrilling times. It also can be a time of great stress when there might be a problem with the unborn baby. When that happens, the best medical and emotional care is needed. These can be found all in one place, called the Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health (IMFH) at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. We are here to help with everything, from providing the very best care to answering questions and offering support.
IMFH has every sort of specialist needed to care for both the mother and the unborn baby. The maternal-fetal specialist, otherwise known as a perinatologist, is here to care for the mother and help the obstetrician safely manage the pregnancy. There are genetic counselors and a doctor who specializes in genetics to give information and answer any questions. There are also a diverse group of pediatric sub-specialists who give the unborn baby the best chance at a healthy life.
At IMFH, we provide all these services for you in one place. We are here to take care of the unborn baby and mother, from the time a problem is found through delivery of the baby. To be sure the baby has the best chance possible to lead a healthy life, special care is taken at the very earliest moment possible, with all the best services the IMFH and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles have to offer.
One of the most difficult parts of learning that an unborn baby may have a problem is deciding which doctors to see and making many appointments. You may not know what kind of doctors to see for the problem the unborn baby has, or who the most experienced doctors are. We can help with all of these concerns, by providing all the services needed in one place. You will have a Perinatal Care Manager to help you choose the right care and make the appointments for you.
At IMFH, we provide and coordinate the care for each mother and baby. The Institute is one of only a few maternal-fetal centers of its kind in the United States. Our care is aimed at finding the best plan for each unborn baby, helping make sure that each step of the care is done the right way, so you have peace of mind through this confusing time.
Our Perinatal Care Manager is the hub of the Institute. Through her, you will get the help you need to be referred to the pediatric sub-specialists at Childrens Hospital and elsewhere, depending on your needs. For example, if a heart problem is detected, the Care Manager helps arrange for a referral to a pediatric heart specialist at Childrens Hospital. Pediatric surgeons will meet with you before the birth to help prepare you for what lies ahead. MRI scans of the unborn baby are arranged when needed. And tours of the neonatal intensive care unit are easily scheduled.
Our team of maternal-fetal specialists, sonographer, medical assistants, genetic counselors and geneticist from the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles-USC Prenatal Diagnosis Center (PDC). Expectant mothers are referred to the PDC when their primary prenatal care provider has seen something that may mean the pregnancy is at risk. The PDC is one of only 28 centers approved by the State of California to provide certain follow-up care for prospective mothers. Other reasons for being referred to the PDC include:
- Advanced maternal age
- Taking a medication, drug or alcohol, or having radiation exposure
- Family history of mental retardation, learning problems, cancer or birth defects or other conditions that “run in the family”
- Possible problem seen on ultrasound of the unborn baby
- Couples who are related by blood
IMFH also works in collaboration with a psychologist, who helps families navigate the stresses associated with a high-risk pregnancy. We also have a genetic counselor who answers patients’ and care providers’ questions about exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding free of charge.
