The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health

09/04/2025

💜 Olivia’s story is one of hope 💜

At just 4½ years old, Olivia is full of life — she walks, dances ballet, plays soccer, and tells stories with a laugh that fills every room. ✨

Before she was even born, Olivia underwent a groundbreaking surgery at The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Lurie Children’s. With the care of Dr. Aimen Shaaban, Dr. Robin Bowman, and our multidisciplinary team, her parents found hope in the middle of a frightening diagnosis.

Today, Olivia is thriving — showing what’s possible when innovation and compassion come together.

💙 Learn more about how we’re helping families facing complex prenatal diagnoses: www.luriechildrens.org/fetalhealth

👉 Have you or a loved one been touched by spina bifida? Share your story in the comments — your words could give another family hope.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGVatKO55w

04/30/2025

At The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health (CIFH), we are proud to be at the forefront of care for unborn babies diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a rare and serious birth-defect that occurs when the diaphragm doesn’t form properly, allowing abdominal organs to move into the chest and preventing the lungs from developing normally.

Every case of CDH is unique, which is why The CIFH brings together specialists in fetal medicine, neonatology, pediatric surgery and more to develop individualized care plans. The CIFH is experienced in treating patients with the most severe forms of CDH which require Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO), a procedure which helps the unborn baby’s lungs develop as much as possible before birth. The Institute has some of the highest success rates in the world for treating CDH. Learn more about the FETO procedure and care at CIFH:
https://youtu.be/rBG5tEE9ajk?feature=shared

The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is one of the only fetal centers in the country that offers a ...

04/24/2025

The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago recently participated in an open house at Prentice Women’s Hospital to raise awareness for black maternal health during Black Maternal Health Week. Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, with over 80 percent of these deaths being preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chicago Institute is committed to providing the best care to all expecting parents and their families as early and extended as appropriate. Our specialists performed over 4,000 consultations last year for all types of fetal conditions with expectant families from across the country, with no patient turned away. Learn more about the Chicago Institute: https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/specialties-conditions/fetal-health/

04/23/2025

Each April we join families and medical teams around the world in raising awareness for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a rare and serious condition that affects 1 in 2,500 babies. The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health (CIFH) is proud to be part of the journey for many families facing a CDH diagnosis, providing hope, expert care and community. One family’s remarkable journey with CDH in identical twins led them to CIFH to seek care from some of the foremost experts in the country. Today, the twins are thriving two-year-olds, working on growing their vocabularies and eating like champs since having their g-tubes removed in December 2024.

Read more about Rhett and Hayes’ rare story:
https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/mighty-fighters-familys-journey-away-from-home-for-twins-cdh-care/

03/24/2025

03/19/2025

Through their expert guidance, social workers at Lurie Children’s and The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health ensure that families are well-informed, providing education and support to help them make empowered decisions. During Social Work Month, we take time to recognize the incredible social workers who play a crucial role in supporting families through the complexities of a fetal diagnosis.

“Most every patient that comes through the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Lurie Children’s Hospital, meets with a social worker as a part of our multidisciplinary counseling,” said Annie, CIFH Social Worker. “We provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments to understand all the systems in their life that may be impacted by this present complication in their pregnancy. It is through our full assessment we can accurately support and prepare patients as they navigate the next steps of their care; knowing the challenges and grief that can come from receiving a fetal diagnosis. I am proud to contribute to the individualized care at the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health. As a multidisciplinary team, it is our goal that families feel well supported, informed, and empowered as they move through complex medical decision making.”

03/12/2025

March is Social Work Month, a time to honor the invaluable contributions of social workers who support families through some of the most challenging moments in life. The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health (CIFH) recognizes the exceptional social workers who provide compassionate guidance as families navigate the medical, social and emotional elements of receiving a fetal diagnosis.

CIFH social workers ensure families are well-informed through education and assistance in navigating decision making. The CIFH is deeply grateful for their dedication and the trust they build with families during challenging times.

“It is a genuine honor to work at the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health (CIFH), and at Lurie Children’s Hospital,” said Beth, CIFH Social Worker. “I am proud to be part of a dynamic team that provides the highest standard of excellence in care to all patients. As a social worker, I strive to see that families are treated with dignity and have equitable access to resources and opportunities. As a social worker at CIFH, I witness the way in which the team ensures that each patient is well-informed and well cared for. The patients we meet are supported in their health care choices, in their pregnancy journeys, and beyond. We strive to preserve their mental health. They are empowered to voice their goals for their pregnancy and to make compassionate care plans for their babies. This holistic approach to medical care gives me peace of mind as a professional in this work. I recognize all the dedicated and talented social workers devoted to this important work at Lurie each day!”

02/05/2025

In this episode, Dr. Sheetal Patel and Dr. Alan Nugent discuss their vision to use innovation and interventions to treat complex congenital heart diseases before birth.

11/26/2024

Thank you Lurie Children's nurses for your commitment to our patients and congratulations on this milestone award!

10/23/2024

In this episode, leaders from the multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Center at Lurie Children's discuss their innovative approaches to spina bifida care in the areas of fetal surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics and urology. Learn more.

10/14/2024

The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health has performed over 300 fetal surgeries. We are grateful to the physicians, nurses, staff and partners who are dedicated to making CIFH a leading center for fetal medicine.

Fetal surgery is a complex intervention to treat a variety of life-threatening anomalies in babies before they are born. These prenatal operations can repair birth defects in utero, allowing the child to have better long-term outcomes depending on their condition. Learn more about the different fetal conditions we treat at our website linked in our bio.

10/09/2024

Each year of the CIFH Family Reunion, we have a new pin to commemorate another year. We have a collector sporting all three pins at the Brookfield Zoo. This year we highlighted the zoo’s baby giraffe. What will it be next year?