Importance of Maternal - Fetal Medicine in High Risk Pregnancies

With advancements in maternal and fetal medicine, the overall well-being of pre-term babies and twin or triplet pregnancies has significantly improved. Several countries now have fetal medicine centre that caters to enhancing fetal care. Many couples are also becoming aware and understanding the crucial role of a fetal medicine specialist for a healthy and safe pregnancy. Fetal Medicine is, however, quite different from the usual gynecological care.

What is the Maternal Fetal Medicine definition?

Fetal Medicine, also known as Maternal-Fetal Medicine, is a branch of medicine that primarily focuses on the health concerns of a fetus and mother before, during, and immediately after pregnancy. Also known as Perinotolgy, Fetal Medicine specialists are gynaecologists and obstetricians who are experts and have advanced knowledge in managing high-risk pregnancies.

What is Fetal Medicine Meaning?

Maternal-Fetal Medicine can be described as an advanced field of medicine that addresses specific health concerns of expectant mothers and their babies. With the help of timely and accurate screening, they can meet the baby's requirements while still in the womb and take care of the mother. Pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies benefit a lot from maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

What is the Scope of Fetal Medicine?

With the help of advanced technology, it has become possible to get access to unknown problems that develop during pregnancy. Technological advancements such as prenatal screening, fetal therapy, and prenatal diagnosis have made it easier for specialists to assess the situation in advance and provide the right course of treatment.

What does a Fetal Medicine Specialist do?

A maternal-fetal medicine specialist takes care of-

• Managing existing health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

• Regular prenatal care in high-risk pregnancies.

• Women who develop complications during childbirth or pregnancy

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• Labor and also assist in the delivery.

• Post-pregnancy complications such as excessive bleeding, infections, etc.

• Any genetic disorders with the help of various tests.

What is a High-Risk Pregnancy?

A high-risk pregnancy can be a result of medical conditions that are present before pregnancy. However, in some cases, complications develop during the pregnancy, making it risky This is when fetomaternal care plays a critical role. some of the factors that can contribute to a high-risk pregnancy are-

• Lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking

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• Advanced age

• Multiple pregnancies

• Complications such as unusual placenta position

Why do you Need a Fetal Medicine Specialist?

Specialists trained in dealing with fetal medicine advise women with chronic health conditions to help them deal with the pregnancy and reach the best possible outcome. During Maternal-Fetal Medicine, these perinatologists use ultrasound, blood tests, and amniocentesis to look inside the womb and evaluate the fetus's condition.

Fetal medicine specialists also care for conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, HIV, etc. They also look into complications from previous pregnancies, such as pre-term births. They are also experts in multiple gestations such as twins, triplets, etc.

What are the Challenges Involved in Fetomaternal Care?

One of the biggest challenges in fetomaternal medicine is providing quality healthcare accessible and affordable to all segments of the population. While people belonging to the middle class and upper middle class can afford a fetal medicine specialist, it is still difficult for people living in rural areas to access fetomaternal care. It leads to complications during pregnancies and childbirth, poor health of the newborn child and the mother, and in some extreme cases, death of either mother or child.

With the help of increased resources and community health programs, fetal medicine care should be provided to all sectors of society for a healthy and robust community.

Conclusion

It has now become possible to improve perinatal health by identifying high-risk pregnancies and providing timely and accurate treatment. Fetomaternal medicine plays a vital role in high-risk pregnancies as the complications in the pregnancy can be identified early. With the innovation in fetal medicine, these problems can be addressed in the best possible manner. A fetomaternal specialist assists in complications during and post pregnancy and helps in safe delivery.

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References

Charles H. Rodeck and Martin J. Whittle; Fetal Medicine: Basic Science and Clinical Practice