We specialize in the care of women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and their reproductive years. We offer holistic, family-centered, physiologic, and natural approaches to childbirth combined with evidence-based and appropriate medical care. Our mission is to support and empower all women and families to become active participants in decisions about their health, while providing safe, comprehensive care. At Yale, there is a special relationship between obstetricians and midwives. Because of the long history of midwifery in the Yale community, certified nurse-midwifery is embraced and considered an integral part of the care we provide. A certified nurse-midwife is a highly trained practitioner with a master of science degree in nursing, with further training and certification through an accredited nurse-midwifery program. Nurse-midwives specialize in the care of women in a holistic manner and recognize when additional support and consultation are necessary. An obstetrician is a physician who has earned a medical degree followed by a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology, focusing on the female reproductive system, including diseases and disorders that may require medical or surgical management. Obstetricians specialize in the management of pregnancy complications, labor, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The nursing staff and providers support individualized care for women based on their unique needs and preferences, supporting natural childbirth with water immersion and aromatherapy, while also providing easy access to modalities such as narcotic and epidural analgesia, as desired.

The Fetal Care Center brings together a team of leading experts in maternal-fetal medicine , neonatology , genetics , pediatric surgery , and an array of other top-ranked pediatric specialties. This network of excellence from throughout our health system comes together to provide an elite level of care. Together, a comprehensive care plan is devised for pregnant patients and their developing babies who require specialized medical and surgical care while in the womb or expected interventions after birth. Our expert physicians and surgeons have ensured successful births for thousands of babies who needed specialized care. As leaders in complex in-utero surgery, we are proud to be the first in Connecticut and the region to perform in utero myelomeningocele repair. Myelomeningocele is a condition in which the baby’s backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. The condition, a type of spina bifida , is a congenital defect of the spine and spinal cord. The surgery is performed before the baby is born (prior to 26 weeks gestation) as this provides the best outcomes. Provided world-class fetal therapy services at Yale New Haven Health for more than 40 years Pioneered the nation’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Yale New Haven Health Yale New Haven Health is one of only a few hospitals in the country to offer couplet care, where mothers and their babies are cared for together in the same room Many procedures available to women with high-risk pregnancies were first developed at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences , including noninvasive fetal anemia assessment, percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS), in utero fetal blood transfusion, and therapies such as fetoscopy and fetal surgery Physicians are leading researchers in the field of fetal medicine A fetal therapy coordinator is available to help patients through the process. The coordinator is there throughout the patient’s care journey, from pregnancy through delivery, and often beyond. They guide patients through testing, meeting with specialists, scheduling appointments, and coordinating the elements of the care plan based on the patient’s needs. For more information or to request an appointment, please call 855-433-8252 , or submit a Fetal Care Center Information Request . Someone is available to answer your call from Monday through Friday, 8am – 4:30pm. Read our list of frequently asked questions about the Fetal Care Center . Here are some of the common conditions we treat at the Fetal Care Center: Cleft lip/palate Congenital heart defects Fetal anemias Gastroschisis Hydrocephalus Intra-abdominal masses Spina Bifida Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome View the full list of conditions . Advanced Prenatal Genetic Testing and Counseling Genetic counseling and prenatal testing are among the most valuable tools to help prospective parents make important decisions regarding a current or future pregnancy. Many things

The Yale Family Planning program’s vision is to provide reproductive health care rooted in dignity, equity, and science. Our mission is to provide exceptional care through evidence-based medicine, essential education, rigorous research, and advocacy focused on abortion and contraception. We provide compassionate and evidence-based care for people when they need birth control, as well as when they face unexpected or unhealthy pregnancies and need abortion care or miscarriage treatment. We support our patients’ journeys with respect. We know that all people deserve comprehensive information about their treatment options to make the best decision for themselves and their families. When it comes to reproductive health, we put our patients’ needs above all else. Our team includes subspecialty-trained physicians and dedicated nurses who provide compassionate care for our patients and their families. When our patients’ medical needs are complex, we partner with an interdisciplinary team of high-risk obstetricians, anesthesiologists, and medical specialists. Our services include: Pregnancy prevention with contraception: Contraceptive counseling and care Specialty contraceptive care for women with complex medical conditions (bleeding or clotting disorders, kidney failure, prior heart attack, organ transplant, or weight-loss surgery) Expertise with intrauterine devices and arm implants Pregnancy loss care: All options for management of early miscarriage Surgical management of second trimester pregnancy loss Bereavement support for pregnancy loss Abortion care: Medical abortion care in the first trimester Surgical abortion care through 23+6/7 weeks gestation Option of general anesthesia (to be “asleep“) for the procedure Bereavement support for ending a pregnancy Preoperative visit. This visit will include counseling, a medical history review, an exam (possible ultrasound and pelvic exam) and possible blood testing. The doctor will also review preoperative instructions (including arrival time for procedures), and consent forms will need to be signed. Patients should plan 1 to 1.5 hours for this visit. A support person is welcome. Before a preoperative visit, patients may need to have a separate ultrasound visit. Operative visit. Generally, the operative procedure will be the next day. Patients must not eat or drink for at least 8 hours before the procedure time, usually not after midnight the night before. Since patients will be affected by the anesthesia for the rest of the day after the procedure, they must have a ride home with someone who is at least 18 years old. They should plan to spend 5 to 6 hours at the hospital this day. Contraceptive visit. At this visit, we will review the patients’ medical history, counsel them on options for contraception, help them select a method that is right for them, and start that method. To prevent a concern for possible pregnancy at this visit, patients should not have unprotected sex for 15 days b