Fetal Medicine

Fetal medicine is a new branch of medicine that includes the assessment of fetal growth and well being, the maintenance of fetal health and the diagnosis of fetal illnesses and abnormalities. As technological advances have improved the ability of sonologists for prenatal diagnosis, so has our capability to diagnose problems before birth. Fetus is therefore increasingly becoming an independent individual, and fetal medicine is the specialty that deals with this unborn patient. Fetal medicine is a relatively new specialty that often requires the expertise of a team which includes specialists, namely obstetricians, perinatologists (also called maternal – fetal medicine specialists), neonatalogists, paediatric cardiologists, paediatric surgical specialists, geneticists and others.

1. Prenatal Diagnosis
2. Fetal Treatment

1. Providing reassurance and reducing anxiety especially among high risk groups
2. To inform and prepare the parents for the birth of an affected child
3. To allow inutero treatment
4. Plan for transfer to a tertiary centre
5. Discontinue pregnancy with an affected fetus

1. Non Invasive
2. Invasive

1. Ultrasonography
2. Maternal Serum Screening

1. Second Trimester Screening
2. Chorionic villus Sampling
3. Fetal Therapy
4. Genetic Counseling

  

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