Home
> Obstetrics and Gynecology > Center
for Advanced Fetal Care
Center for Advanced Fetal Care
The Center for Advanced Fetal Care provides comprehensive maternal fetal health services for high-risk pregnancy patients. Robert Atlas, M.D., Chair of The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy, is joined by perinatologists Jerome Kopleman, M.D., and Michelle Kush, M.D., sonographers, experienced certified obstetrical nurses and genetic counselors. This team of experts is skilled in utilizing advanced technologies to provide counseling and support to expectant parents and their families.
Our team of experts works closely with each patient to present all of the current options for care and treatment. Our team takes time to listen, advise and answer the questions of expectant parents and families we serve.
Is Your Baby at Risk?
If you have detected a problem with your unborn child or you are at risk for developing a problem based on your personal medical history, The Center for Advanced Fetal Care at Mercy Medical Center can help. These risks include:
- Abnormal amniotic fluid
- Abnormal maternal serum screen
- Abnormal or suboptimal ultrasound
- Congenital heart disease, mental retardation, or other syndromes
- Congenital infection, such as Fifth disease
- Family history, such as single gene disorder
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Maternal age of 35 or older
- Maternal medical problems affecting the fetus
- Multiple gestation (twins or more!)
Diagnostic Services
Our full range of services to detect fetal abnormalities include:
- Diagnostic amnioinfusion, fetal biopsy
- Endovaginal ultrasound
- Genetic Amniocentesis (15 weeks to term)
- Invasive testing
- Molecular biologic testing for single gene disorders
- Multivessel fetal Doppler blood flow studies
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction) diagnosis of fetal infection, blood type, etc.
- Rapid karyotype
- Targeted two-dimensional ultrasound imaging
The Center for Advanced Fetal Care at Mercy is affiliated with the Center for Advanced Fetal Care at University of Maryland Medical System (CAFC at UMMS), an internationally recognized center for fetal medicine with a high level of excellence for both the fetus and the mother.
For some patients and conditions, the fetus requires immediate treatment. For the following services, we refer to our sister institution (CAFC at UMMS) for around-the-clock care:
- CVS at 11-14 weeks
- Drug therapy
- Fetal blood sampling – cordocentesis
- Fetal blood transfusion
- Fetoscopic electrocautery and laser surgery
- Gene therapy
- Minimally invasive fetal surgery
- Multiformat Fetal Echo
- Percutaneous shunt placement
- Treatment of fetal heart failure
- Treatment of fetal hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism
- Treatment of fetal infection
- Treatment of fetal thrombocytopenia
- 3-D Reconstruction and Fetal MRI
For more information call The Center for Advanced Fetal Care at 410-332-9192.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why might a patient wish to be referred to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist?
Most women seek consultation from a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist because they are "at risk" and considering becoming pregnant or because they are pregnant and "high risk", "complicated", or otherwise worried about their pregnancy.
What are examples of types of patients seen by Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists?
Patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures during pregnancy, such as:
- Comprehensive ultrasound
- Chorionic villus sampling
- Genetic amniocentesis, fetal surgery or treatment
Women with medical or surgical disorders, such as:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Preeclampsia (toxemia)
- Diabetes or other endocrine disorders
- Kidney or gastrointestinal disease
- Infectious diseases
Healthy women whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcome, such as:
- Abnormal maternal serum screening (blood test)
- Twins, triplets or more
- Recurrent pre-term labor and delivery
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Recurrent pregnancy loss
- Suspected fetal growth restriction (baby not growing enough)
Why is an MFM specialist ideally trained to care for women with these issues/pregnancy complications?
A Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist is an individual who has completed two to three years of Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship after completing four years of Obstetrics and Gynecology residency upon graduation from Medical School. Fellowship training provides additional education and practical experience to gain special competence in various obstetrical, medical, and surgical complications of pregnancy. The MFM specialist is therefore prepared to provide care or consultation for both mother and fetus (unborn baby) in a complicated pregnancy. In addition, the MFM specialist provides education and research concerning the most recent approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of obstetrical problems.
How is care coordinated between your provider and an MFM specialist?
It is recognized that many obstetricians-gynecologists are also qualified by training and experience to manage complicated pregnancies. Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists are complementary to obstetricians in providing consultations, co-management, or direct care for a complicated patient both before (pre-conception counseling) and during pregnancy. Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists also function in collaboration with family physicians and certified nurse midwives. The relationship between your provider and the Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist will depend upon the acuity of the condition and local circumstances.
Do The Center for Advanced Fetal Care see general Obstetric patients?
No, we do not provide general obstetrical care to pregnant women. We see women referred to us from general obstetricians based on particular concerns or for ultrasounds.
How is The Center for Advanced Fetal Care different from general Radiology?
The ultrasounds provided by our staff are interpreted by our Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists, whose area of interest is caring for pregnant women and their fetuses (unborn babies). Our sonographers have extensive experience with fetal ultrasound.
Are all Center for Advanced Fetal Care patients considered “high risk”?
No. While some of our patients are “high risk”, we also see women for ultrasounds regarding size and dating of the pregnancy or fetal anatomy.
What are the hours of operation at The Center for Advanced Fetal Care?
Antenatal testing appointments are available between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Ultrasound appointments are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Genetic Counseling appointments and Maternal Fetal Medicine consultations are available between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Please call for an appointment, 410-332-9192.
How long does an appointment take?
Appointments can take up to an hour. If there are multiple appointments such as genetic counseling and ultrasound, it can take 2 hours.
Where is The Center for Advanced Fetal Care located?
The Center for Advanced Fetal Care is located on the main campus of Mercy Medical Center. Click here for driving directions to Mercy Medical Center and for more information on parking.
Now Accepting New Patients.
Most Insurances Accepted.
Please call for an appointment.
Phone: 410-332-9192
Tollfree: 1-800-MD-Mercy
(1-800-636-3729)
|
