Virtual support for mothers expecting babies with congenital heart disease

HEARTPrep: A Virtually-delivered Psychosocial Intervention for Mothers Expecting a Baby With Congenital Heart Disease

Not applicable Interventional Nemours Children's Clinic · NCT05129631

This study is testing a virtual support program for mothers expecting babies with congenital heart disease to see if it can help reduce their stress and improve their emotional wellbeing.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorNemours Children's Clinic Academic / other
Locations1 site (Wilmington, Delaware)
Trial IDNCT05129631 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

HEARTPrep is a virtually-delivered psychosocial intervention designed to support mothers who are expecting a baby diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD). This program aims to alleviate the high levels of stress and trauma that mothers experience following a CHD diagnosis, which can negatively impact both maternal wellbeing and child development. Delivered through the Nemours App, HEARTPrep includes various modules that focus on improving emotional health and resilience. The pilot program will gather preliminary data to inform a larger future trial assessing its effectiveness.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are expectant mothers carrying a fetus with congenital heart disease who are receiving care at Nemours Children's Health.

Not a fit: Patients whose fetus has a genetic syndrome or other comorbid condition associated with a life expectancy of less than one year may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly enhance the emotional wellbeing of mothers, leading to better developmental outcomes for their children.

How similar studies have performed: While psychosocial interventions for expectant mothers are not widely tested in this specific context, similar approaches have shown promise in improving maternal and child health outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Expectant mothers carrying a fetus with congenital heart disease expected to require cardiac surgery in the first year of life
* Partners of participating expectant mothers can also participate together with the mother
* Receiving fetal cardiac care at Nemours Children's Health
* Speaks English or Spanish fluently
* Age 18 or older
* Access to a computer, tablet or mobile device with internet access

Exclusion Criteria:

-Fetus has a genetic syndrome or other comorbid condition associated with a life expectancy of less than one year

Where this trial is running

Wilmington, Delaware

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Congenital Heart Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.