Diagnostic and Therapeutic Maternal-Fetal Medicine

The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine encompasses the diagnosis of medical conditions that may make a pregnancy high risk and the treatment of these conditions.  The division’s maternal-fetal medicine physicians (also called perinatologists) work closely with other specialists as required at the medical center, including genetic counselors, neonatologists, pulmonologists, and cardiologists to offer patients a team approach to managing high-risk pregnancies. 

The perinatal team offers the full range of patient care from direct management of high-risk patients to collaboration with patients’ private obstetricians as needed throughout pregnancy and delivery. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists remain available to assist in the continued care of these patients who remain under the care of their private doctors.

Conditions that maternal-fetal medicine specialists diagnose and treat are:

• Pre-existing conditions affecting the mother, such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, epilepsy, or asthma
• Complications of pregnancy that affect the mother, including pre-eclampsia, infections, or gestational diabetes
• Multiple fetuses
• Genetic disorders or other abnormalities of the fetus
• Surgical management of the obstetrical patient
• Management of the critically ill patient
• Intrauterine fetal procedures