Our Services

The following services enhance your care journey with us and empower us to provide you with the highest level of care.

Pre-pregnancy counseling for the best outcomes

Before you move forward with your pregnancy, we recommend that you receive pre-conception counseling to ensure a lower-risk pregnancy and better outcomes for you and your baby. Learn more about our pre-pregnancy counseling.

With our pre-conception counseling, you can expect:

  • A full cardiac assessment and, if needed, testing to measure the strength of your heart and predict how well it will perform during pregnancy.
  • Recommendations to improve your heart health before as well as after pregnancy. This can include adjustments to current treatments, lifestyle changes, and/or heart surgery.
  • Helping with contraception choices so you can plan your pregnancy when you are at your healthiest.

Expert pregnancy care

When you come to us for care, you will see experts who are part of our larger maternal-fetal medicine team (or high-risk obstetrics). Our doctors deeply understand the connection between heart health and pregnancy, and we know what signs to watch for to keep your pregnancy on the right track. We support your heart and help you stay as healthy as possible. At our Stanford hospitals, you can expect the latest care, since our highly specialized doctors actively conduct research to advance maternal, fetal, and heart care through their work at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, Stanford Health Care, Stanford School of Medicine, and the Stanford Medicine Dunlevie Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center.

Specialized care and interventions

Besides keeping a close eye on you, we keep a close eye on your developing baby. Our maternal-fetal medicine doctors are trained to detect any problems with developing babies, so you can expect periodic checks throughout your pregnancy.

Studies show that women who have congenital heart disease are more likely to have a baby with congenital heart disease. That’s why you are seen by an MFM doctor (maternal-fetal medicine specialist) and other fetal specialists from our Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program, who consult with cardiology experts from our Fetal Cardiology Program as well as other Betty Irene Moore Children’s Heart Center cardiology programs (as needed) to ensure that your baby will have the best possible start. If we suspect that your baby has a heart problem, we work together, as needed, to run tests and create a plan to support him or her in the best possible manner.

Learn more about our care for babies with heart problems.

Comprehensive postpartum care

After delivery, you will experience our high-quality maternity (postpartum) care provided by nurses who are specially trained to care for expectant mothers. During your hospital stay, you will be able to access a wide variety of patient and family services. We strive to provide you with the highest level of care, in a compassionate and family-centered manner.

Learn more about our maternity care.