Maternal fetal medicine (MFM)

If you have special concerns about your pregnancy, delivery or newborn's health you can count on the Advocate Health Care’s multidisciplinary teams and sophisticated technology at our birthing centers.

Our top maternal fetal medicine (MFM) experts provide the diagnostic testing, monitoring and prenatal care you need to avoid complications and welcome your family's newest addition as safely as possible.

¿Qué es un embarazo de alto riesgo?

Un embarazo de alto riesgo es un término para cuando las personas embarazadas tienen presión arterial alta, diabetes, factores de riesgo genéticos u otras complicaciones. Entre los recién nacidos de alto riesgo están aquellos con complicaciones médicas especiales o los que nacen muy pronto, muy pequeños o muy frágiles para sobrevivir sin atención especializada.

Los centros de maternidad de Advocate cuentan con algunos de los mejores especialistas en medicina maternofetal. Find a Chicago-area birthing center conveniently located near you.

What is maternal and fetal medicine?

Maternal fetal medicine (MFM) is a specialized field of obstetrics that focuses on high-risk pregnancies. An MFM specialist, also known as a perinatologist, is an expert in providing advanced maternal-fetal care for those experiencing a complicated pregnancy due to a medical condition, disease or other health concerns.

Perinatologists work closely with your OB-GYN and other specialists to monitor both maternal and fetal health. They provide comprehensive high-risk maternal care, including prenatal screenings, genetic testing, advanced imaging and targeted treatments for the best possible pregnancy outcome.

To schedule an appointment, call 800-3-ADVOCATE or use our online search tool to find a maternal fetal medicine expert near you.

How is MFM different from OB-GYN?

While both MFM doctors and OB-GYNs care for pregnant patients, an MFM specialist focuses on high-risk pregnancies and maternal-fetal medicine. OB-GYNs provide general obstetric and gynecologic care, while perinatologists have advanced training in managing complications that may arise during pregnancy.

An MFM doctor is typically consulted when a pregnancy is considered high-risk due to factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, fetal abnormalities, or complications that develop during pregnancy. Unlike a general OB-GYN, an MFM specialist has expertise in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting both you and your baby.

Su equipo multidisciplinario para el embarazo de alto riesgo

Your doctor may refer you to an MFM specialist if you have a complicated pregnancy, pre-existing medical condition or if tests indicate potential fetal concerns

When you’re faced with a high-risk pregnancy, you want experts who specialize in a full range of medical fields so you can get the specialized care you and your baby deserve before, during and after birth. Nuestros equipos de medicina maternofetal brindan acceso a especialistas que pueden incluir:

• Neonatologists and other pediatric subspecialists.
• Especialistas en enfermería clínica, enfermeros registrados, trabajadores sociales y coordinadores de atención de salud a domicilio
• Técnicos líderes en imágenes y ecografías
• Expertos en asesoramiento antes del embarazo, asesoramiento genético y asesoramiento, educación y control para la diabetes
• Médicos con amplia experiencia en cuidados intensivos neonatales 

Nuestros centros de maternidad tienen UCIN de nivel II o nivel III para brindar la atención de alta tecnología que su recién nacido necesite.

Servicios de diagnóstico para embarazos de alto riesgo

Tener hijos está lleno de sorpresas, pero planificar un embarazo y un parto seguros y saludables no es algo que tenga que dejar librado al azar. Ofrecemos los servicios más avanzados disponibles para monitorear su salud y el desarrollo del bebé durante un embarazo de alto riesgo, que incluyen diagnósticos genéticos, fetales y maternos integrales.

La atención prenatal para un embarazo de alto riesgo puede incluir estas pruebas:

• Ecografía completa: Identifies fetal anomilies, screens for anomalies and verifies dating and size of the fetus.
• Ecocardiograma fetal: Assesses the structure and function of the fetal heart if your baby is facing a complex fetal condition due to a high-risk pregnancy.
• Fetal ultrasound monitoring: puede incluir pruebas sin estrés y perfiles biofísicos para evaluar el bienestar fetal. Monitoring is usually performed as needed, during the third trimester.
• Amniocentesis genética: Performed to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid, which is used to test for chromosomal abnormalities and neural tube defects.
• Obtención de muestras de sangre umbilical percutánea (PUBS): disponible en unos pocos centros médicos a nivel nacional, la PUBS extrae una muestra de células sanguíneas fetales del cordón umbilical para analizar afecciones como la anemia fetal o enfermedades genéticas.
• Ecografía dirigida (nivel 2): Verifies fetal anatomy for those at risk for specified problems.
• Prueba de detección triple: Performed to measure alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in a mother's blood and assess the risk for related fetal abnormalities.

You can count on the treatment we provide at our Center for Fetal Care at Advocate Children's Hospital. It's the first program of its kind in Illinois, and it combines world-class experts with the most advanced treatment available in fetal therapy and neonatal care