Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine - Norton Children's Provider

A Trusted Partner in High-risk Maternal Care in Kentucky and Southern Indiana

When pregnancy is complicated by maternal medical conditions, timely access to specialized care can improve outcomes for both mother and baby.

Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists partner with obstetricians, family medicine physicians, maternal care providers and specialists throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana to provide consultation, co-management or transfer of care for patients with complex medical conditions during pregnancy.

These maternal-fetal medicine specialists work alongside providers with expertise in cardiology, endocrinology, behavioral health, critical care and numerous medical and surgical specialties to provide coordinated care throughout pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period.

With more than 50,000 maternal-fetal medicine encounters annually, an obstetric intensive care unit and the region’s most comprehensive maternal and neonatal resources, we help referring providers manage even the most medically complex pregnancies with confidence.

Comprehensive Care for High-risk Pregnancies

Specialized Maternal Care

Our multidisciplinary team provides specialized care for patients whose medical conditions increase pregnancy risk, including:

Hypertension, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiac disease through cardio-obstetrics, in collaboration with the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Women’s Heart Program
Gestational or preexisting (Type 1 or Type 2) diabetes care, through Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute Perinatal Program (7,000-plus encounters)
Perinatal mental health — during pregnancy and postpartum, through Norton Women’s Mental Health Services
Substance use disorder. through the Norton Maternal Opiate and Substance Treatment (MOST) Program
Critical maternal illness requiring OB hospitalist support for inpatient care or intensive care
Advanced maternal age or multiple gestation
Gynecologic oncology and urogynecology conditions
Conditions such as kidney disease, neurological disorders, obesity and metabolic disorders

Our coordinated care model allows patients to benefit from the expertise of specialists while keeping referring providers informed throughout the patient’s pregnancy.

Advanced Fetal Care and Delivery Planning

When a complex fetal condition is suspected, Norton Children’s Fetal Care Center coordinates care for mother and baby — from prenatal diagnosis and specialty consultations through delivery planning, newborn care and ongoing pediatric follow-up.

One referral connects patients with a multidisciplinary team offering:

Advanced fetal imaging and prenatal diagnosis
Coordinated maternal-fetal medicine and pediatric subspecialty consultations
Collaborative delivery and newborn care planning with the referring care team
A dedicated fetal care nurse navigator to coordinate appointments and support families
Ongoing communication and collaboration with referring providers

Refer a patient to the Norton Children’s Fetal Care Center

Why Refer to Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine?

Every referral is tailored to the patient’s clinical needs. Depending on the situation, we provide:

One-time maternal-fetal medicine consultation
Ongoing co-management with the referring provider
Transfer of care when indicated for medically complex pregnancies
Delivery and neonatal care planning
Postpartum transition back to referring provider
Coordination with adult and pediatric specialists

Consultation notes and recommendations are shared promptly, and referring providers have continued access to patient information through Norton EpicCare Link for seamless communication and continuity of care.

50,000-plus maternal-fetal medicine encounters annually
13,000-plus unique patients seen across the region
9,000-plus deliveries systemwide – Louisville and Southern Indiana
300-plus maternal transfers from referring providers annually
Region’s only obstetric intensive care unit
Regional network of Level IV, Level III and Level II neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)

This experience allows our team to rapidly evaluate complex maternal conditions, supporting referring providers through consultation, co-management or transfer of care.

Refer patients with:

Chronic hypertension or preeclampsia
Diabetes in pregnancy (gestational, Type 1 or Type 2)
Cardiac disease or congenital heart disease
Obesity with significant medical complications
Substance use disorder in pregnancy
Advanced maternal age
Multiple gestation with maternal complications
History of preterm birth or recurrent loss
Prior medically complicated pregnancy
Autoimmune disorders
Renal, pulmonary or neurological disorders
Suspected placenta accreta spectrum or other complex obstetric conditions

When to Refer: Fetal Conditions

Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists work alongside pediatric subspecialists, neonatologists, genetic counselors and nurse navigators through the Norton Children’s Fetal Care Program to diagnose and create a care plan for a comprehensive array of suspected fetal conditions.

Norton Children’s Fetal Care Program

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Women’s Heart Program: Collaborative cardio-obstetrics care for women with congenital or acquired heart disease during pregnancy
Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute Perinatal Program: Comprehensive management of gestational, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes before, during and after pregnancy
Norton Maternal Opiate and Substance Treatment (MOST) Program: Region’s only program dedicated to pregnant patients with substance use disorder.
Obstetric intensive care unit: Only hospital in the region with advanced critical care for patients with severe, pregnancy-related medical conditions
Collaborative care through the Norton Children’s Fetal Care program for fetal anomaly diagnoses and care coordination
Norton Children’s regional neonatal network: Immediate access to Level IV, Level III and Level II NICUs for newborns requiring specialized support.