Providing High-risk Pregnancy Care
As a high-risk pregnancy patient, you may have questions and concerns. The staff our Memorial Health System Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Center understands and strives to provide the services and care you need throughout your pregnancy. We focus on all aspects of high-risk pregnancies.
Our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists
Our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists are OB/Gyn doctors who specialize in the obstetric, medical, genetic and surgical care of both mothers and babies in high-risk pregnancies. Your pregnancy is considered high risk if you have the following medical or obstetric conditions:
- Maternal diabetes or heart disease
- Uterine abnormalities
- Previous pregnancy complications such as preclampsia and a history of premature births
If you have any of these conditions, our MFM specialists will meet with you to review your patient history, perform a fetal ultrasound and develop a management plan for you pregnancy.
Our MFM specialists are:
- Sterling McColgin, M.D., Medical Director
- Stephanie Martin, D.O., Assistant Medical Director
- Amie Hollard, M.D., Director of Ultrasound
- Laura Klein, M.D.
- William Ramirez-Cacho, M.D.
Memorial's Maternal-Fetal Medicine Services
In addition to consultations with our staff specialists our MFM services include:
- Prematurity Prevention Counseling: If your baby is born early - before 37 weeks - he or she may have health problems requiring a lengthy hospital stay. Our Prematurity Prevention counseling teaches you how to reduce the risk of a premature delivery. You'll learn about the risk factors including carrying more than one baby, smoking and/or substance abuse, previous history of premature labor, diagnosis of a uterine abnormality and not having prenatal care early in your pregnancy. You'll also learn about the warning signs, preventative measures and medications and the special needs and health problems of premature babies.
- Genetic Counseling: Genetic counseling helps parents identify and understand risks that may impact their baby's health as well as explain genetic conditions that parents may pass on to their child.
You may want to consider genetic counseling if:
- You are a mother older than 35
- You have a family history of genetic disorders or birth defects
- You had abnormal ultrasound results and abnormal screening results (such as AFP test)
- Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): These tests are used to identify fetal and chromosomal abnormalities and specific genetic disorders. A CVS is performed between 10-13 weeks gestation and an amniocentesis is performed at 16 weeks.
- Diagnostic Fetal Ultrasound: Ultrasound can provide a comprehensive looks at your pregnancy and your baby's anatomy. It is used to determine delivery date, evaluate your baby's growth, diagnose multiple pregnancies, diagnose some birth defects and determine position of the placenta and the volume of amniotic fluid.
- Antepartum Fetal Assessment: If you have diabetes, high blood pressure and preclampsia, are carrying multiple babies or are past your due date, antepartum fetal assessment is recommended. It is also recommended for babies who have specific birth defects as well as other obstetrical and fetal complications. If you have any of these conditions you'll be monitored using fetal monitors and ultrasound.
For more information about our Memorial Health System Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center, or to schedule an appointment, call 719-365-5960.