Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Facts
About 1,600 babies are born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) every year in the U.S. It's just as common as cystic fibrosis and spina bifida, but many people have never heard of it. CDH can be life-threatening if it's not treated.
Get CDH facts then share with your friends and family to help raise awareness of birth defects and the treatments available for them.
All numbers except deliveries reflect data from 1995-April 2026 at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Ensuring the best outcomes
Babies born with CDH are extremely fragile. The slightest change in their condition can have a big impact on their outcome/survival.
At the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (CFDT), we have the experience, expertise and resources to give babies with CDH the best possible start. With CDH, attention to the tiniest details matters, from the moment of prenatal diagnosis through delivery, surgery and follow-up care. We care for more CDH patients than any other hospital in the world and are recognized as one of the very best hospitals for CDH surgery. This experience leads to better planning, decisions and outcomes.
Sources
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment and Center for Fetal Research
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Pregnancy.org