Women's Health Services | Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Pediatric Care Alliance

The Pediatric Care Alliance is a partnership between Connecticut Children’s and Hartford HealthCare, providing services and expertise from newborn care to care for chronic illnesses and adult congenital heart disease. We help families navigate the healthcare journey every step of the way, from birth to adulthood.

Connecticut Children's flagship neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Hartford Hospital is a hub for newborn care throughout the region: Connecticut Children’s NICU is named one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report, staffed by a nationally-ranked nursing team, and leading important research.

Prenatal Testing

Prental testing focuses on the assessment of your baby through a variety of tests.

These tests are ordered to offer reassurance that your baby is doing well even though a risk factor exists in the pregnancy. Since the risk factors themselves may vary widely in severity and type, a specific individualized program of testing will be ordered by your obstetrician and/or the Prenatal Testing Center.

In addition we provide genetic counseling, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling.

First Trimester Screening
Most babies are born normal. All women, however, have a very small chance of having a baby with a chromosome problem such as Down Syndrome.

Fetal Movement Counting
Along with the tests that are performed on our unit, we commonly request that you also conduct a daily test of fetal health in your home.

Level II (Targeted) Ultrasounds
You may be referred by your obstetrician’s office to the Prenatal Testing Center for a "Level-II" or "Targeted" ultrasound exam.

Prenatal Screening for Down Syndrome
Women over age 35 have an increased risk of giving birth to babies with Down syndrome and other chromosomal conditions.

If a risk factor is discovered during your pregnancy, a specific individualized program of testing will be ordered by your obstetrician and/or the Prenatal Testing Center. Some of these tests may include:

Non-Stress Test (NST)
The NST has become the most common method of antepartum screening for fetal well-being.

Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI)
An ultrasound examination can diagnose either too little or too much amniotic fluid.

Fetal Biophysical Profile (BPP)
A biophysical profile (BPP) is a prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal wellbeing, involving a scoring system.

After your baby is born there are several procedures, screening and tests performed to ensure your baby’s health and safety:

Newborn Screening
The following procedures and tests are routinely done on all newborns. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your pediatrician before you deliver.