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Procedures include fetal
ultrasound, amniocentesis, fetal
biophysical profile and more specialized procedures such
as first trimester screening, percutaneous
umbilical blood sampling and intrauterine
transfusion. An experienced staff and convenient location
near obstetric services contribute to peace of mind when you
want it most.
Nurses have
access to attending physicians 24 hours a day for interpretation
of test results or emergency deliveries. That’s
important when you or your baby need immediate care. Anesthesiologists
and board-certified specialists in maternal-fetal medicine are
available 24 hours a day.
Pre-pregnancy
services such
as genetic counseling and pre-conception counseling are available
from the team of maternal-fetal specialists at The University
of Texas Medical School at Houston. This
team, supported by the Maternal-fetal Medicine program, regularly
contributes to advancements in high-risk care.
If critical
care services are required, Children’s Memorial
Hermann Hospital offers a 92-bed Level
II and Level III neonatal intensive care unit. For
babies with heart conditions, fetal echocardiography is available
in the Children’s Heart Institute.
Services
Fetal assessment/ultrasound and diagnosis
Women facing
high-risk pregnancies can rely on Memorial Hermann for services
essential to diagnosing their baby’s health.
- Maturity
amniocentesis – Usually done
late or near full term, an amniocentesis is
conducted to determine fetal lung maturity or when amniotic
fluid infection is suspected. Typically you will learn that
same day how your baby is doing and when you can expect
to deliver. Those wishing to have an amniocentesis for prenatal
diagnosis are referred to a genetic counselor, and these
are performed between 15 and 21 weeks.
- Fetal
biophysical profile – Physicians and staff at
Memorial Hermann want every new mother to feel as safe and
comfortable as possible when facing a high-risk pregnancy.
One of the best ways to measure the health of your baby is
with a biophysical
profile (BPP) test, administered by a nurse certified in
fetal wellbeing tests. A BPP test
may include a nonstress test with electronic fetal heart monitor
and a fetal ultrasound. BPP testing is usually done in the
last trimester of pregnancy or when requested by a physician.
- Ultrasound – A fetal
ultrasound is a safe, painless way to obtain information
about your baby, such as its size, position, anatomy, age
and condition. Physicians generally request that women with
high-risk pregnancies have ultrasounds every four weeks and
may order a targeted ultrasound (also known as Level II ultrasound).
The fetal ultrasound may also include nuchal translucency
screening in the first trimester (sometimes called nuchal
fold scan). This measurement can help your doctor identify
your baby's risk for Down's
syndrome and
other chromosomal abnormalities.
Our fetal
assessment/ultrasound and diagnostic center is accredited by
the American
Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), meaning
that it meets nationally accepted standards for patient care
and offers the latest ultrasound technology.
- Percutaneous
umbilical blood sampling – Also known
as fetal blood sampling or cordocentesis, this specialized
procedure tests for fetal anemia, blood oxygen levels of the
fetus, infection and fetal
karyotype. Our
experienced staff will answer your questions to put you at
ease during the procedure. Sampling is done on the same floor
as other fetal testing. If anemia is identified, a fetal transfusion
is performed.
- Intrauterine
Transfusion – If
your baby is anemic or hydropic, an intrauterine
transfusion may be recommended by your doctor. While
this procedure is rare, it’s important to know you can
rely on one location for all the care you and your baby may
need.
Maternal
care
Memorial Hermann-Texas
Medical Center treats women with all types of high-risk pregnancies.
In fact, we have a 22-bed state-of-the-art unit dedicated to serving
women with high-risk pregnancies and complicated deliveries. Our
critical care unit is one of the largest available.
What new mothers
can expect:
- Family-oriented
facility
- Labor and delivery
rooms
- Antepartum nurses
- Beautiful, spacious
rooms
- Internet connection
in rooms
- Fetal testing
center within the high-risk unit
- Neonatal unit
two floors away
- Indoor play
area for visiting siblings
Should it be necessary,
maternal and fetal transportation through Memorial Hermann's Life
Flight program is available for life-threatening emergencies in Texas
and surrounding states. Helicopter or ambulance transportation is
available depending on the location and need.
Pregnant women who have cancer have access to gynecological oncology
services through our affiliation with MD Anderson.
Specialized
fetal and newborn care
Services to monitor
your baby's health, immediately before birth and afterward, are provided
by a fetal assessment/treatment team led by a maternal-fetal medicine
doctor or subspecialist, on-site 24/7. That team may expand to include:
- Certified genetic
counselors
- Pediatric surgeons,
including pediatric cardiovascular surgeons and pediatric cardiologists
- Social workers
- Specialized
nurses
- Neonatologists
- Pediatric medical
geneticists
- Anesthesiologists
The Maternal-Fetal
Medicine program works in concert with the 92-bed
neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Memorial Hermann
Hospital. Continuous monitoring and observational support for newborns
is provided there, along with a full range of services for babies
born prematurely or with congenital birth defects, infection, metabolic
problems or other medical or surgical needs.
The
Team
Memorial Hermann-Texas
Medical Center and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital are
proud to be associated with the Maternal-fetal Medicine specialists
from The University of Texas Medical School at Houston – the
largest such group in Houston.
Leaders in their field, the UT doctors write or contribute to major
textbooks and other national publications and present at national meetings
in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
These physicians
and Memorial Hermann Maternal-fetal Care nurses work together to
provide women with attentive, personalized care.
Maternal-fetal
Team:
- Larry C. Gilstrap
III, MD
- Susan M. Ramin,
MD
- Mildred M.
Ramirez, MD
- Joan M. Mastrobattista,
MD
- Manju Monga,
MD
- Alex Christian
Vidaeff, MD
- Michael Lucas,
MD
- Edward R.
Yeomans, MD
- Lisa M. Hollier,
MD, MPH
Memorial Hermann-Texas
Medical Center
Pre-pregnancy
care
Certified genetic
counselors from The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
are available to help you determine if genetic testing is right for
you and, if so, which tests are available.
Testing can
identify predispositions to diseases such as
With test results, genetic counselors can possibly alleviate some
of your anxiety, help you understand potential pregnancy risks and,
if necessary, develop a treatment plan. Simply having the knowledge
may help you make better decisions for your family.
If you have been
exposed to certain medicines, drugs, diseases or infectious agents,
or to environmental or on-the-job hazards, you may want to consider
a pre-pregnancy consultation.
Advancements
in high-risk care
The Maternal-Fetal
Medicine specialists at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center participate
in ongoing research that often changes the way medicine is practiced
throughout the United States.
One of the most
far-reaching studies involved the use of progesterone to prevent
recurrent premature birth. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center,
along with 14 other U.S. centers, participated in this National Institutes
of Health (NIH) grant-funded study.
We also participate in additional randomized clinical trials supported
by the NIH Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network grant through The
University of Texas Medical School at Houston Division of Maternal-Fetal
Medicine.
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