Learn more about Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists
A maternal-fetal medicine doctor specializes in the health needs of women and their unborn babies who are at risk of complications during pregnancy. Maternal-fetal medicine doctors provide both medical and surgical care, as well as genetic screening and pre-pregnancy counseling. Maternal-fetal medicine doctors work closely with obstetrician-gynecologists and neonatologists to develop comprehensive care plans.
A maternal-fetal medicine doctor typically:
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Provides pre-pregnancy counseling including a medical history and genetic profile evaluation, as well as education about pregnancy wellness and ways to reduce risks and complications
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Treats and monitors chronic diseases and conditions that affect the health of pregnant women and their unborn babies including diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, and heart disease
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Orders and interprets laboratory and imaging tests and prescribes medications
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Diagnoses and treats acute pregnancy complications, such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, and eclampsia
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Performs fetal diagnostic and screening tests, such as ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, and percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling to detect birth defects and fetal conditions
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Performs surgical procedures on pregnant mothers and their unborn babies, such as open fetal surgery and fetoscopy to treat birth defects and prevent complications
- Collaborates with other healthcare providers including obstetrician-gynecologists, neonatologists, genetic counselors, and nutritionists to help women and their families manage their pregnancy care
Maternal-fetal medicine doctors may also be known by the following names: perinatologist, maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist, MFM, maternal-fetal physician, high-risk pregnancy obstetrician, high-risk pregnancy specialist, high-risk pregnancy doctor, and high-risk pregnancy physician.
There are 3178 specialists practicing Maternal-Fetal Medicine in the United States with an overall average rating of 4.0 stars. There are 875 hospitals in the United States with affiliated Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists, including NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.