Ob/Gyn may oversee your prenatal care, an MFM may offer care recommendations, monitor your condition or oversee any testing or treatment during pregnancy. Women with complicated pregnancies continue to see their Ob/Gyn for regularly scheduled appointments with periodic visits to check on their progress. If you have any questions or concerns about your pregnancy, you may want to speak with your OB/GYN.
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What is a MFM ultrasound?
(MFM) clinic is different from other clinics. A hospital or doctor’s office may be the best place to get a scans. Maternal and fetal sonographers are trained to be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal fetal development. An ultrasound is an image of your baby’s heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, intestines, pancreas and other organs.
The image is made up of a series of images, each of which shows a different part of the body. In contrast, a cesarean section is a surgical procedure in which the baby is removed from the mother’s womb and placed in an operating room. This is the most common way to deliver a baby.
When should you see a MFM?
You may also need a maternal fetal medicine specialist if you’ve had problems with a pregnancy in the past, you need special tests or procedures, or you or your baby develops problems anytime during your pregnancy (such as a birth defect). A specialist will be needed for women carrying more than one baby.
What does a MFM do?
Maternal-fetal medicine specialist is a doctor who helps take care of women having complicated or high-risk pregnancies. Medicine has three extra years of training in OB/Gyn for these doctors. (MFM) are also known as Obstetrician-Gynecologists (OGs). They specialize in helping women have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
They also help women who have had a miscarriage, stillbirth, or other complications of pregnancy. MFM also work with pregnant women and their families to make sure they are getting the care they need.
What makes a woman high-risk pregnancy?
Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs can put a pregnancy at risk. High blood pressure, Obesity, Diabetes, Infections, thyroid disease, heart or blood disorders, and poorly controlled asthma are some of the risk factors for pregnant women. Premature birth, low birth weight, premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia and other complications can occur during pregnancy.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition in which a fetus is born with abnormally low levels of alcohol in its blood. FAS can be caused by a variety of factors, such as a genetic predisposition, prenatal exposure to alcohol, maternal alcohol exposure, or a combination of these factors.
What happens at first MFM appointment?
The first appointment includes an assessment of your unborn child. Any medical records, surgical history, medications, environmental exposures, and screening tests that may be relevant to your case will be reviewed by your MFM physician. The second appointment will be a follow-up appointment. This appointment includes a physical exam, a blood test to check for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and a complete blood count (CBC) and an amniocentesis (amniotic fluid test) to confirm the diagnosis of GDM.
If you have a history of diabetes, you may also be asked to complete a glucose tolerance test (GLUT-1 test). This test measures the amount of glucose in your blood and is used to monitor your glucose levels during pregnancy and during the first six months of life. It is also used as a screening tool to determine if you are at increased risk for developing diabetes in the future.
How long does a MFM ultrasound take?
Depending on the position of the baby and the requirement for specific images, the time for this examination can be from 45 to 75 minutes. During the sonogram, we look at the baby’s head, heart, stomach, and other parts of the body.
The images are taken with a high-speed digital camera, which allows us to see the entire body at a very high resolution. The images can be viewed on a computer monitor or a large-screen television. They can also be downloaded to a personal computer, tablet, or mobile device.
What is level 3 ultrasound in pregnancy?
Ultrasound (advanced anatomical detail): In this ultrasound the existence of all fetal organs is checked, and abnormalities in the anatomic structure is dismissed. The uterus, amniotic fluid, and placenta are also looked at.
In the advanced ultrasound – (See list below)
- The presence of the fetal heart
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Spleen
- Pancreas
- Intestines
- Bladder
- Uterus
- Cervix
- Ovaries
- Fallopian tubes
- Testes
- Adrenal glands
- Thyroid glands
- Adrenals are all noted
The presence or absence of a fetus is also noted (Complete list below)
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Arms
- Legs
- Feet
- Hands
- Fingers
- Toes
- Ears
- Nose
- Mouth
- Tongue
- Anus
- Vagina
- Vulva
- Labia
- Clitoris
- Penis
- Scrotum
- Urethra
- As well as the size
- Shape of its head
- Rectum
- Testicles
This is done in order to determine if the fetus has any abnormalities that may be associated with the birth of an infant.
Why am I being referred to a MFM?
If you have a chronic health condition like high blood pressure, or you or your baby experience an unexpected problem during pregnancy, your doctor or midwife may refer you to a maternal-fetal medicinespecialist. Extra monitoring and support is provided by the doctors who help manage high-risk pregnancies.
How many ultrasounds do you get during high-risk pregnancy?
You will have at least two ultrasounds during your early and middle pregnancy, and in the later parts of your high-risk pregnancy, you may have ultrasounds as often as once a week based on your gestational age. Ultrasounds may also be done during the first trimester.
Ultrasound is a medical procedure that uses sound waves to create an image of the fetus inside the womb. This information is used to help doctors determine if the baby is healthy enough to be born.