Three Inova hospitals named among U.S. News & World Report’s fifth annual 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care

Newborn baby boy being cradled by new parents in birthing center

Fairfax, VA – Inova Health is proud to announce that Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, and Inova Loudoun Hospital have all been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as 2026 High Performing hospitals for Maternity Care, the highest distinction awarded in the annual Best Hospitals for Maternity Care study. Notably, this is…

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Dedicated women’s heart care for a lifetime

The Inova Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program is focused on recognizing sex and gender differences in cardiovascular disease over a lifetime, particularly the impact of sex-specific risk enhancers that affect women at different stages of their lives. Our multidisciplinary team works to detect these risks early, address them effectively, and provide specialized treatment for heart conditions…

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Inova Fairfax Hospital named Level IV maternal care verified facility from The Joint Commission

Falls Church, VA, December 17, 2024 – The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification program, offered in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), has named Inova Fairfax Hospitalas a Level IV maternal care verified facility.  As a Level IV facility, Inova Fairfax Hospital has demonstrated it can care for…

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What You Need to Know About Cardiovascular Health During Pregnancy

Paula Pinell-Salles, MD, FACC, specializes in general cardiology and vascular medicine and is a Co-Founder of Inova’s Women’s Heart Health program. She is board certified in cardiovascular disease. Dr. Pinell-Salles is a cardiologist in Virginia Heart’s Fairfax office.  For most women, pregnancy is marked by good health and the excitement of bringing a new life into the world. Still,…

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Postpartum Depression and the Holidays

Chandrika Balgobin, DO, PMH-C, perinatal psychiatrist for Women’s Behavioral Health Services , Shana Bellow, Ph.D., LCP, psychologist, Inova Women’s Behavioral Health Services  and Tara Croan, LCSW, PMH-C, perinatal therapist for Women’s Behavioral Health Services Editor’s note: Although “postpartum depression” is the term most people know, a more fitting term is perinatal mood and anxiety disorders,…

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Cytomegalovirus: What You Should Know About CMV in Pregnancy

Luis Martin Gomez, MD, MsCE, is board-certified in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. He specializes in high-risk pregnancies and practices at Perinatal Associates of Northern Virginia and the Inova Health System. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) may be the most common virus you’ve never heard of. For most people, the virus is a minor inconvenience — if…

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5 Tips to Prevent Birth Defects

Healthy behaviors before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects  Stephanie J. Williams, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN with Inova Obstetrics and Gynecology in Shirlington. She delivers babies at Inova Alexandria Hospital. Today, March 3, marks World Birth Defects Day. If you plan to expand your family any time soon, now is the right…

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How to Maximize Heart Health During Pregnancy

Sheila Khianey, MD, is a cardiologist with the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute practicing at the Inova Cardiology offices in Ashburn and Fairfax. She is board-certified in cardiology and internal medicine. The human body is a remarkable thing, especially when it comes to pregnancy. And pregnancy brings major changes. An expectant mother’s heart has to…

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Infant Safety: Car Seats, Puffy Coats and Other Tips

5 important ways to protect your newborn’s safety Major baby-proofing typically kicks into high gear just before a little one becomes mobile and is starting to show signs that they may be able to roll off an elevated surface. Prior to this point, keeping baby safe mostly revolves around the infant’s tiny world, which is…

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