Cooper University Hospital's Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program offers comprehensive services for low-risk and high-risk pregnant women, including:
- Obstetrical Ultrasonography: Our high resolution 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasounds allow us to image the baby to diagnose many types of birth defects.
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First Trimester Down Syndrome Screening: We are certified by the Fetal Medicine Foundation and the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Foundation to perform first trimester nuchal translucency which, along with blood from a fingerstick, can detect Down syndrome in more than 80% of pregnant women.
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Fetal Echocardiography: If a heart defect is suspected, we can perform detailed imaging of the baby’s heart. We also work closely with the pediatric cardiologists to help diagnose and treat babies with congenital heart defects, both prior to and following delivery. Our monthly perinatal cardiology clinics allow us to combine our expertise when performing fetal echocardiography.
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Genetic Consultation: Our board certified genetic counselor is available to review your detailed family history and to discuss risk factors for birth defects for your unborn child. She provides counseling to fully educate you about the tests that are available to help diagnose abnormal fetal conditions, as well as the risks and benefits of these tests. Conditions warranting genetic counseling would include advanced maternal age (35 and over), having a previous child with a birth defect or a genetic abnormality, medication exposure, and environmental exposures.
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Genetic Procedures: Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists offer specialized procedures to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, including chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis.
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Other Invasive Testing: In select cases, we are able to perform percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) to sample the baby’s blood and when necessary to transfuse the baby in cases of fetal anemia.
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Antepartum Fetal Testing: We perform tests for fetal well-being, including non-stress tests, biophysical profiles, and amniotic fluid assessment, for babies at higher risk for problems prior to delivery. Our full-time perinatal nurse will perform the test and help answer any questions about the status of your unborn child.
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Perinatal Consultations: Maternal-fetal medicine specialists are available to speak with you before and during pregnancy to discuss high-risk conditions of you and your baby, so that you can have a complete understanding of the risks of pregnancy.
Why Should I Come to a Maternal - Fetal Medicine Specialist for an Ultrasound Rather than a Radiologist?
In most radiology suites, the ultrasound technician who performs your test cannot discuss your results with you. You must wait until your next appointment with your obstetrician to review the ultrasound findings and for the obstetrician to make further recommendations.
At Cooper, we give you your results right away. Our doctors are available to speak with you about any abnormalities that may occur and to answer any questions that you may have about your pregnancy care. If your ultrasound is abnormal, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist will be available to speak with you about the significance of the findings. He or she may recommend other diagnostic procedures and will establish a plan for the remainder of your pregnancy and delivery.
We work closely with your obstetrician to develop a management plan that will allow you to stay with your obstetrician, in most cases.
To make an appointment with a Cooper University Hospital physician at an office near you, please call 1-800-8-COOPER to speak with a member of our physician referral and information service.