FAQs

A fetal medicine specialist is a medical expert who specialises in the well-being and treatment of pregnant mothers and their unborn baby. Their main responsibility is to check on the fetus regularly, identify any problems, and treat or intervene as needed.

Doctors who specialise in high-risk pregnancies, often known as perinatologists, are Obstetricians who have completed an additional three years of training. A fetal medicine specialist is entrusted with a broad spectrum of duties centred around the healthcare and treatment of expectant mothers and their unborn babies. They perform comprehensive scans and tests, including ultrasounds, amniocentesis, detailed anomaly scans, Nuchal translucency scans, early pregnancy scans, and more. These procedures help track fetal development, identify potential health concerns, and administer necessary treatments or interventions. In certain complex situations, the treatment may involve procedures like fetal therapy or surgery.

Maternal-fetal doctors, while working directly with the mother and fetus, also maintain close collaboration with other healthcare professionals like obstetricians, neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, and genetic counsellors. This multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive care for both the mother and the baby, particularly in high-risk pregnancies.

There are a number of advantages to working with a professional MFM specialist. The hazards associated with high-risk pregnancies can be mitigated. They have ability to make an accurate diagnosis and effectively treat problems. In addition, they can give parents-to-be comprehensive advice and information to aid in their pregnancy and the development of their baby.

Fetal therapy, also known as fetal treatment, is a branch of fetal medicine that involves the diagnosis and treatment of fetal abnormalities.

It includes medical interventions—such as medications given to the mother to and surgical interventions to help an unborn baby that might die or be disabled if no action was taken.

Advanced fetal therapy, which includes treatments offered at our Center, is a relatively new field of medicine.

We see all sorts of issues at our Center. Heart, abdominal, urologic and neurological conditions are the most common ones we treat.

We also have expertise in disorders that affect twins, including twin-to-twin-transfusion syndrome. With this rare condition, which affects 10 to 15 percent of identical twins who share the same placenta, the placenta has abnormal blood vessels. As a result, one fetus receives more of the necessary nutrients needed to grow, and the other does not receive enough.

Other twin disorders we treat are:

Selective fetal growth restriction, in which twins share unequal portions of the placenta that provides fluid and nutrients to them
Twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS), unequal blood counts in identical twins
Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence (TRAP), a rare condition in which one twin without a functioning heart draws blood from the other twin.
Additional conditions we treat at our Center include:

Fetal anemia, in which the fetus does not have enough red blood cells
Fetal arrhythmias, in which the fetus’ heart rate is not normal
Fetal obstructive uropathy (posterior urethral valve), in which excess flaps of tissue develop in the urethra
Monochorionic twin pregnancies, in which identical twin pregnancy with single placenta complicated with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, selective growth restrictions, or twin anemia polycythemia sequence.

We offer a wide range of fetal diagnostic and imaging services

What is NIPT/ NIPS: Also known as Cell-free fetal DNA test A new form of testing that can assess the risk of a fetus having a chromosome disorder, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), or Patau syndrome (trisomy 13).

What is Amniocentesis: An ultrasound-guided fine needle is used to remove a small amount of amniotic fluid from the sac surrounding the fetus for testing.

What is Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): An ultrasound-guided needle takes a sample of chorionic villi. Villi are projections that grow from the chorion, a membrane between the fetus and mother. The villi contain information about the genetic makeup of the fetus.

Fetal Blood transfusion: These are done when the fetus is suffering from severe anemia and could die without this transfusion, which can be administered through the mother’s abdomen into the fetus’ umbilical cord or through the mother’s abdomen and uterus into the fetus’ abdomen.

Fetal shunt placement: A shunt, or hollow tube, is inserted through the mother’s abdomen and uterus and into the fetus to drain fluid from the amniotic cavity. Shunts are most often used to treat urinary tract blockages. If the bladder becomes enlarged, the amount of amnionic fluid decreases, which can cause underdeveloped lungs, facial and extremity deformities, and kidney damage. A shunt allows the urine to bypass the obstruction and drain into the amniotic cavity and restore normal fluid levels.

Fetoscopic laser procedure: To treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a small instrument equipped with a laser is small camera (fetoscope) is inserted into the mother’s amniotic cavity to locate and burn off abnormal blood vessel connections in the placenta. This can stop the progression of TTTS.

If TTTS is left untreated, there is an 80-percent chance that at least one of the twins dies. And if one dies, the other has a 33-percent risk of brain damage.”

NT scan is a scan which depends on fetal position as we have to measure thickness of fluid present behind the fetal neck when fetus is in the horizontal position. If baby is not in horizontal position, it may take time till baby turns. In Target scan we have to examine all the structures of the baby body to rule out any anomaly. It also depends on baby’s position. So if baby is not in favourable position, it may require repeated sittings. Sometimes you may have to come another day if baby does not change the position.

●Early pregnancy/ Viability scan to diagnose the pregnancy and confirm the fetal heart activity
● NT scan (at 3rd month) it is Important Scan for accurate datting of the pregnancy, to detect structural abnormalities and for the calculation of the risk for Chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.
● Anomaly Scan (at 5th month) – In this Scan every body part of the baby is examined in detail to rule out any structural malformation and markers for Chromosomal abnormalities.
● Growth Scan – to monitor the growth of the baby, fluid around the fetus, position of fetal head, position of the placenta and blood flow in the fetus.
You may require some more scans depending on fetal growth Doppler pattern or any emergency condition like bleeding

Ultrasound is done with the sound waves there is no harmful radiations in the ultrasound. It is very safe in pregnancy including transvaginal ultrasound. Frequent scanning in pregnancy is not harmful for the baby.