Cincinnati Children's Hospital has launched a new antepartum unit within its Fetal Care Center, designed to help pregnant women cope up with the challenges of high-risk foetal conditions or foetal anomalies.

The unit features seven private rooms, providing both short- and long-term inpatient care.

Cincinnati Children's Fetal Care Center surgical director Foong-Yen Lim said: “These rooms have been strategically placed in the hospital to provide pregnant women the best quality care and close proximity to any sophisticated foetal surgeries they may need leading up to birth.

“We offer comprehensive care for expecting moms from prenatal diagnosis and counselling to birth and continue the care for moms and babies after birth.”

The antepartum unit is equipped to help prolong pregnancies, reducing risks and improving outcomes for newborns.

It has been designed to offer a comfortable environment while providing medical care in private rooms, a procedure room, and an ultrasound room.

Comprehensive services and subspecialty care are available to mothers and babies at an in-patient level.

Furthermore, the unit benefits from the collaboration of maternal-foetal medicine specialists from TriHealth and UC Health, as well as experts in foetal imaging, fetal surgery, and neonatology.

The centre’s CenteringPregnancy programme delivers prenatal care and education in a group environment.

This programme covers topics such as breastfeeding, stress management, and the challenges of high-risk pregnancies.

Fetal Care Center medical director Mounira Habli said: "We offer new, state-of-the-art, prenatal medical interventions and technologies offering hope for babies who just a few years ago didn't have that hope.

"The care provided at the Fetal Care Center will positively change the outcomes for moms and babies."