Specialized maternal transfer care in Austin

Pregnancy and birth don't always go as planned. Sometimes, an unexpected medical concern means a pregnant patient needs a higher level of maternal care than their current hospital or birth setting can provide. Care teams at Ascension Seton Women's Hospital help patients and families get the support they need.

For families across Central Texas, Ascension Seton Women's Hospital in Austin offers specialized maternal transfer services to help patients receive additional care during pregnancy, childbirth and the weeks after delivery. With a dedicated maternal transport team, maternal-fetal medicine specialists and coordinated care for newborns, the hospital helps support patients through these unexpected changes.

Specialized care for complex pregnancies

Some pregnancies need additional monitoring, treatment or medical support to protect the health of the pregnant patient and baby. Ascension Seton Women's Hospital is a Level IV Maternal Care Center, a designation for hospitals equipped to care for patients with complex pregnancy-related conditions.

The hospital's maternal transport team works with maternal-fetal medicine specialists, who focus on pregnancies that need specialized care. 

A transfer may be recommended for conditions such as:

• Early labor or an expected delivery before 32 weeks of pregnancy
• Preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-related blood pressure condition
• Heavy bleeding or an increased risk of bleeding during delivery
• Severe infections or other medical conditions affecting pregnancy
• Concerns about a baby's growth or development

The hospital also has a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), staffed with Dell Children’s neonatologists, for newborns who need additional medical support. If more specialized care is needed, families can be connected with the Specialized Delivery Unit at Dell Children’s Medical Center and its nationally ranked pediatric specialists. This coordinated approach provides continuity of care through pregnancy, delivery and beyond, while keeping patients and families informed and supported.

Coordinated care when a hospital transfer is needed

When a patient needs to move from one hospital to another, clear communication and coordination between care teams can help support a smooth transition.

Ascension Seton Women's Hospital’s dedicated maternal transport works with referring hospitals and maternal-fetal medicine specialists to coordinate care for patients who need additional medical support.

The team helps assess each patient's needs, determine whether a transfer can be made safely and coordinate with the receiving hospital care team.

For patients who cannot be safely transferred, the transport team can also help support the referring hospital in coordinating next steps.

This coordinated approach helps patients receive care based on their individual medical needs, while keeping communication between care teams at the center of the process. 

Claire Vences, maternal outreach coordinator for perinatal services at Ascension Seton Women’s Hospital, shares “We want the process to go smoothly and safely from the moment the patient walks into our hospital system or into facilities within our community. Our perinatal hotline can connect providers to a maternal-fetal medicine provider 24/7 for consults. We also practice maternal emergency scenarios in our referral sites, including those which do not have obstetrical services. We want to ensure these sites have the resources available to stabilize and care for these patients until they can be transported to the Women’s Hospital with our maternal transport team.”

Respecting birth preferences when plans change

For some families, a hospital transfer may mean changing plans for a birth at home or in a community birth center.

Ascension Seton Women's Hospital welcomes patients who need additional care after planning a community birth. Care teams understand that a hospital delivery may not have been part of the original plan and work to provide compassionate care that respects each patient's preferences and individual needs.

When possible, the hospital team collaborates with the patient's community midwife to support a smooth transition and help families feel informed and supported throughout their care.

The focus is on listening to patients, understanding what matters to them and providing personalized care as their needs change.

“One of the really exciting things about our Women’s Hospital is our ability to care for and support any and all birth experiences. We care for some of the sickest pregnant women in Central Texas with the highest level of maternal care available and at the same time, we can offer a low intervention birth experience in our low intervention suites with hydrotherapy tubs. Not every birth experience goes as planned but we are so grateful to have the resources here to really support and respect our patient’s wishes” shares Clare Vences. 

Pregnancy care focused on you and your baby

Every pregnancy is different, and sometimes care needs change along the way.

At Ascension Seton Women's Hospital, care teams provide specialized pregnancy and newborn care, with a focus on helping patients understand their options and feel supported in decisions about their health.

Whether a patient needs specialized care for a complex pregnancy or a hospital transfer from a planned community birth, the goal is to provide compassionate care that respects each person's needs and preferences.

Learn more about women's emergency care at Ascension Seton Women's Hospital.

If you have questions about your pregnancy or birth plan, talk with your OB-GYN or midwife about your care options.