What is fetal maternal medicine?
A subspecialty of obstetrics, which manages the medical and surgical high risk pregnancies. This allows treatment of both mother and fetus, and permits the fetus being seen and treated as a patient, giving follow up, treatment and prognosis to in utero diseases with the purpose of reducing morbidity and mortality.
All pregnant patients benefit from this follow up, regardless of age, history, or weeks of gestation.
Congenital defects are the major cause for perinatal and childhood morbidity and mortality (prevalence 3-6%). On the other hand, detection of intrauterine growth restriction allows a reduction on perinatal mortality, mostly the one that occurs at the end of the gestation.
Ultrasound is the best prenatal detection method available
The purpose of the evaluation by fetal maternal medicine specialist is the following:
- Confirm the diagnosis.
- Evaluate if it’s an isolated defect or if it’s associated with more malformations or syndrome.
- Determine the severity of the disease.