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Fetal Cardiology Program

Nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report

USNWR Cardiology
Pregnant woman getting a sonogram

The Fetal Cardiology Program helps families who are experiencing concerns with the development of their baby’s heart during pregnancy. From getting an accurate diagnosis and understanding of your child’s condition to finding the best possible course of treatment, we will be with you every step of the way.

Comprehensive heart care before birth 


As one of the top-ranking pediatric cardiology and heart surgery programs in the nation, Children’s Mercy has a great team of cardiac specialists ready to answer your questions and create a care plan that’s right for your family. 

Our fetal cardiologists, nurses and nurse practitioners care for families like yours every day. They are dedicated to supporting your family, whether it’s for one appointment or ongoing care. 

The Fetal Cardiology Program is part of our Fetal Health Center—in fact, about one-third of all our Fetal Health Center families come for a heart condition. That means you’ll have access to any additional medical specialists your baby may need, such as maternal-fetal medicine specialists, sonographers and genetic counselors, along with support services like social work, chaplaincy and child life specialists. 

Fetal cardiology roadmap


We've developed a roadmap to help families understand the patient journey at the Fetal Cardiology clinic, from referral to your initial appointment to meeting your baby.
 

Heart care for your baby, today and down the road 


We treat all types of cardiac conditions in the Fetal Cardiology Program. If your baby has a condition that requires continued care or surgery in the future, our top-ranked Heart Center team can help. 

Find out more about the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy, including more information about specific pediatric cardiac conditions and our excellent surgical outcomes. 

Conditions

  • Aortic Atresia
  • Aortic Valve Disease
  • Atrioventricular Canal Defect
  • Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
  • Arrhythmias
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Masses
  • Cardiomyopathy and Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Chest pain
  • Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA) 
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Coronary Artery Anomalies
  • Cor Triatriatum
  • Ductal dependent Heart Lesions
  • Ebstein's Anomaly
  • Endocardial cushion defect
  • Heart murmurs
  • Heart Failure
  • Heart Transplants (pre- and post-op)
  • Heterotaxy Syndrome 
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
  • Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome
  • Interrupted Aortic Arch (IAA)
  • Mitral valve Disease
  • Pacemakers and Defibrillators
  • Pulmonary Atresia
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Pulmonary Stenosis
  • Single Ventricle Anatomy 
  • Subaortic Membrane Abnormalities 
  • Syncope (fainting)
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR) 
  • Tricuspid Atresia
  • Truncus Arteriosus
  • Valvular Heart Disease
  • Vascular Ring
  • Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

The Children's Mercy Research Institute

The Children’s Mercy Research Institute at Children's Mercy is creating an integrated research environment where no boundaries exist between science and medicine. In our quest to find answers to pediatric medicine’s most challenging questions, we are collaborating with physicians, scientists, academic colleagues, philanthropic partners and others within our community, and around the world.

Stories

Fetal cardiology: Baldwin family's story

Follow the Baldwin family's journey through the Fetal Cardiology Program at Children's Mercy when their son Hartman was prenatally diagnosed with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome.

Fetal cardiology: Hazel's story

Doctors at Children’s Mercy diagnosed Hazel Moffett’s heart defect before she was born, and repaired it when she was only 8 days old. Today the 1-year-old is developing normally—laughing and playing.

Meet Hazel
A child receives care in the Fetal Cardiac Clinic at Children's Mercy.

Fetal cardiology: Levi's story

When a fetal echocardiogram reveals a critical heart defect—and the baby has to undergo life-saving cardiac surgery only eight days after birth—you don’t expect the mother to label the experience as “awesome.” But Traci Pierson actually describes her son Levi’s birth in even more glowing terms. “Despite the fact that my child had a serious birth defect,” Traci said, “I look back on his delivery as even better than my first son’s”—a remarkable statement considering that big brother Liam was born with no health concerns.

Meet Levi

For health care providers


Health care providers can make a referral by calling (816) 234-3209, faxing this form to (816) 302-9605, or by visiting our Provider Portal. You’re also welcome to download our counseling checklist, which outlines all the topics we cover when meeting with a family with a recent cardiac diagnosis.