Children's Fetal Cardiology

What is a fetal cardiologist?

Children’s fetal cardiologists are a type of pediatric heart specialist who focuses on diagnosing and managing conditions that affect a baby’s heart before delivery. Our fetal cardiologists use advanced imaging technology and testing to evaluate and diagnose possible heart issues before a baby is born. An example of testing may include an electrophysiology (EP) study, which helps diagnose the cause of heart rhythm issues (arrhythmia).

If advanced care is needed, fetal cardiologists work in collaboration with a team of expert subspecialists through UMMC’s Center for Maternal and Fetal Care. This multidisciplinary team works together to care for both the mother and child’s unique needs - all under one roof.

About Children's of Mississippi Heart Center

The Center for Maternal and Fetal Care draws on the Children's of Mississippi Heart Center to offer comprehensive, complex cardiovascular specialty care to children of all ages. Initial fetal echocardiogram evaluations can be performed as early as 16 weeks. Once a diagnosis is made, our multidisciplinary care team partners work with each expectant mother to develop a customized birth plan. Fetal cardiologists continue to follow the family throughout the pregnancy. They also perform regular fetal echocardiograms to monitor how the baby's heart is developing and identify any changes that may occur.

UMMC is Mississippi’s only site for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); this life-saving technique helps maintain essential oxygenation for infants, children and adolescents with cardiac and pulmonary concerns. Fetal heart subspecialists also follow each family after delivery to allow for a smooth transition of care to Children’s Heart Center. UMMC is also the home of the only formal pediatric heart transplant program in the state.

UMMC is the home of Mississippi’s only fetal and pediatric echocardiography lab accredited by the Intersociety Accreditation Commission of Echocardiography (IACE).

Fetal cardiology offers:

• State-of-the-art fetal echocardiograms, provided by Mississippi's only advanced imaging trained cardiologists.
• Mississippi’s only site for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
• The only comprehensive fetal cardiology diagnostic and treatment center in Mississippi, including the state's only IACE-accredited fetal and pediatric echocardiography lab.
• A pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) provides 24/7 care by a multidisciplinary team of board-certified specialists in pediatric critical care.
• The state's only dedicated pediatric heart transplant team.
• A smooth transition of care to Children’s Heart Center.

Learn more about the Children's Heart Center.