A Single Point of Contact for Complex Fetal Referrals

When a complex fetal condition is suspected, Norton Children’s Fetal Care Program provides coordinated, multidisciplinary care for both mother and baby—from prenatal diagnosis through delivery, neonatal care and ongoing pediatric follow-up.

We partner closely with referring obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists and community providers to provide timely consultation, coordinated specialty evaluation and individualized care planning while maintaining clear communication throughout the patient’s care journey.

Supported by advanced fetal imaging, maternal-fetal medicine expertise and a comprehensive network of pediatric medical and surgical specialists, our team works together to optimize outcomes for every family.

Dedicated Fetal Care Coordination

One referral connects your patient to our multidisciplinary fetal care team.

Each family is paired with a dedicated fetal care nurse navigator who serves as the primary point of contact for patients, families and referring providers by coordinating:

  • Multidisciplinary appointments
  • Fetal imaging and diagnostic testing
  • Delivery planning
  • Neonatal care coordination
  • Family support resources
  • Ongoing communication with referring providers

Fetal Care Nurse Navigators

Stacie Hartlage, BSN, R.N.

Stacie worked for nearly 20 years as a critical care nurse in the “Just for Kids” Critical Care Center at Norton Children’s Hospital before becoming a nurse navigator in 2019.

As an intensive care unit nurse, Stacie witnessed families’ stresses and anxieties caring for a child with a complicated condition. Her experience has taught her how to help understand what’s happening and how she can ease some of the anxiety.

Devanae’ Wright, BSN, R.N.

Devanae’ began her nursing career caring for adults but always dreamed of becoming a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse. In 2006, that dream came true when she began working at Norton Children’s Hospital.

In 2016, she became a nurse navigator with Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine. As the mother of a premature infant and through her time working in the NICU, Devanae’ deeply understands what families of fragile babies go through. Her personal and professional experience allows her to provide emotional support, comfort and compassion during their journey.

The Norton Children’s Fetal Care Center brings maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric specialists, advanced fetal imaging and care coordination together in one centrally located office in downtown Louisville.

The center streamlines multidisciplinary evaluation, prenatal treatment planning, delivery coordination and research—making it easier for families and referring providers to access comprehensive fetal care.

Why Refer to Norton Children’s Fetal Care Program?

  • One referral for comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation
  • Dedicated fetal care nurse navigator from referral through delivery
  • Advanced fetal imaging and diagnostic services to support timely, informed care decisions
  • Collaborative care planning with maternal and pediatric specialists
  • Personalized delivery and neonatal care planning
  • Seamless transition to comprehensive pediatric specialty care after birth and ongoing follow-up
  • Ongoing communication and co-management with referring providers

Our care team develops individualized treatment plans by bringing together the specialist each pregnancy requires, including

  • Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
  • Board certified pediatric specialists:
    • Neonatology
    • Pediatric cardiology
    • Pediatric neurology
    • Pediatric neurosurgery
    • Pediatric nephrology
    • Pediatric surgery
    • Pediatric urology
    • Pediatric genetics
    • Additional pediatric subspecialists as needed

Our team evaluates and manages a wide range of fetal conditions, including but not limited to:

  • Congenital heart defects
  • Neural tube defects
  • Chromosomal and genetic disorders
  • Renal and urinary tract anomalies
  • Skeletal dysplasias and limb abnormalities
  • Craniofacial anomalies
  • Congenital diaphragmatic and pulmonary conditions
  • Abdominal wall defects
  • Neurologic and central nervous system abnormalities
  • Twin-related complications
  • Other complex fetal conditions

We work alongside referring providers to determine the appropriate level of involvement throughout pregnancy.
Depending on the patient’s needs, care may include:

  • One-time consultation
  • Multidisciplinary evaluation
  • Ongoing co-management
  • Delivery planning
  • Transfer of care when appropriate
  • Postnatal specialty care and long-term follow-up
  • You’ll receive timely consultation notes via Norton EpicCare Link, treatment recommendations and ongoing updates throughout your patient’s care.

    When appropriate, patients may deliver at their local hospital. If delivery at a Norton Healthcare facility is recommended, our team coordinates delivery adjacent to the Level IV NICU and the Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Norton Children’s Hospital.

The Fetal Care Program is part of the broader Norton Children’s health system, giving your patients access to nationally recognized pediatric expertise and advanced capabilities before and after birth.

 

  • #1 children’s hospital in Kentucky with eight nationally ranked pediatric specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report
  • Accredited facility for echocardiography with fetal echocardiography also available through tele-echo sites across Kentucky
  • Only ACS-verified Level I Children’s Surgery Center in Kentucky and Southern Indiana
  • Level IV NICU and Kentucky’s only dedicated pediatric CICU provide specialized care for babies with the most complex fetal conditions
  • ELSO Platinum Level ECMO Center of Excellence – the highest ELSO designation, held by fewer than 50 centers worldwide

Related Stories

img-blur-shadow
Norton Children’s opens Kentucky’s first dedicated fetal care center, expanding specialized care for families across the commonwealth
img-blur-shadow
Case study: Growth-friendly pediatric spine surgery corrects progressive neuromuscular scoliosis while preserving growth
img-blur-shadow
July 2026 Norton Children’s Medical Group New Providers
img-blur-shadow
Norton Children’s selected as 1 of 3 global sites in pediatric epilepsy clinical trial