After having an ultrasound at 21 weeks, it was suspected that Natika’s baby had a left side congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Her obstetrician referred Natika to the Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy and after further scans, the diagnosis was confirmed by the team. Natika and her husband were offered the option of a procedure performed at Hopkins called fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO), where a fetoscope is used to place and inflate a small latex balloon to block the trachea and improve development of the fetal lung. At 28 weeks, the FETO procedure was performed successfully by the Fetal Therapy team, and at 34 weeks the balloon was removed. At 36 weeks, Natika’s water broke and William was born, with the Johns Hopkins Hospital OB team and the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center NICU team working hand-in-hand to continue care after delivery.

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