Role Of Fetal Medicine In High Risk Pregnancy
Dr. Bhavna Anand
5 Min Read
May 20, 2024
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English
Fetal Medicine
Fetal Medicine in Delhi
Fetal medicine or Perinatology is a speciality of medicine that focuses on the care and management of the health of pregnant women and the foetus through all stages of pregnancy. Manipal Hospital has the best fetal medicine specialist who specialises in monitoring the growth of the unborn baby and health of the mother throughout pregnancy.
OUR STORY
Know About Us
Why Manipal?
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Manipal Hospital is the best fetal medicine hospital in Dwarka Delhi, offering a complete and comprehensive foetal programme from the pre-pregnancy stage until the birth of the baby. Our department is among the few centres in India embracing an ‘all in one’ maternal foetal care.
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We have a team of highly specialised fetal medicine specialists in Delhi with excellent clinical skills to provide special care for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies with medical complications (diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, etc) or pregnancies with multiple gestations, premature labour and other problems.
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We offer help in planning future pregnancies for women with medical complications which might complicate their pregnancy and for women with previous pregnancies with unfavourable outcomes.
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Manipal Hospitals is the maternal-fetal medicine hospital in Dwarka, Delhi where over the last decades, foetal medicine has evolved as a well-established discipline with the advancement in techniques and technology which has led to the integration of critical care, internal medicine, surgery, endoscopic surgery, human genetics, ultrasonography, molecular biology, etc.
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The foetal and genetic medicine department offers specialisation with a certificate in maternal foetal medicine from a renowned institute — to help in providing better care for medical, genetic, surgical and obstetrical complications arising during pregnancy.
Treatment & Procedures
Scans and diagnostic tests are crucial to an effective prenatal care program. The safest and most reliable procedures are non-invasive tests like ultrasounds. A routine prenatal care program usually includes a fetal viability scan in the first 6 to 10 weeks, followed by a first-trimester screening and NT scan. A detailed anomaly scan between 18 to…
Manipal Hospitals sports top of the line screening equipment manned by a team of brilliant technicians who leave no room for error. The accuracy of their diagnosis is commendable and helps our gynaecologists to map the action plan for treatment.
The fetal echocardiography is similar to an ultrasound. Only, this machine uses sound waves that ‘echo’ off the structures of the fetus's heart. This exam allows your doctor to clearly view the structure and function of your unborn child's heart to spot any complications. It's typically done in the second trimester, between weeks 18 to 24.
Among the range of gynaecological scans, the pelvic ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic exam which produces images that are used to assess organs and structures within the female pelvis. A pelvic ultrasound allows quick visualization of the female pelvic organs and structures including the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
A cyst aspiration is a procedure used to drain fluid from a breast cyst. The vast majority of cysts are benign (non-cancerous), though some are quite tender. Aspirating the fluid from a cyst may alleviate symptoms or discomfort. In some cases where your gynaecologist suspects a disorder like cancer, the specimens are sent to our pathology lab to determine…
Amniocentesis is a prenatal test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the sac surrounding the fetus for testing. The sample of amniotic fluid (less than one ounce) is removed through a fine needle inserted into the uterus through the abdomen, under ultrasound guidance.
Fetal blood sampling (FBS) refers to three techniques used to gain access to fetal blood: cordocentesis - also known as percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, intrahepatic blood sampling, and cardiocentesis. The techniques for FBS can also be used for intravenous administration of medication such as digoxin) or blood products that include platelets…
A fetal blood transfusion is a procedure used to treat anaemia in the fetus. Fetal anaemia occurs when the baby's blood count is too low. The condition can be life-threatening, which is why fetal blood transfusions need to be conducted shortly after discovering fetal anemia.
Fetoscopy is an endoscopic procedure conducted during pregnancy to allow surgical access to the fetus, the amniotic cavity, the umbilical cord, and the fetal side of the placenta. A smal incision is made in the abdomen, and an endoscope is inserted through the abdominal wall and uterus into the amniotic cavity. The scope is introduced through a small…
The most common procedure to treat TTTS is reduction amniocentesis. This procedure involves draining the amniotic fluid from around the recipient twin. This procedure may improve circulation in the donor twin especially if the anastomosis or cross connection is superficial in the placenta and the TTTS is at a lower stage.
The goal of prepregnancy care is to reduce the risk of adverse health effects for the woman, fetus, and neonate before people plan to have a baby. This is done to optimize health, address modifiable risk factors, and provide education about a healthy pregnancy.
In the case of positive findings, further testing by invasive and non-invasive methods are available at our centre
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Genetic Sonogram Package: Also known as the risk reassessment scan, a genetic sonogram is performed when the baby is at the risk of down’s syndrome based on the results of an earlier screening test. This scan can detect foetal anatomy defects specifically that of the brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, bowel, kidney and limbs.
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Fetal Echocardiography: Similar to an ultrasound, Foetal echocardiography is performed to examine the structure and function of the baby’s heartbeat. Sound waves are used to examine the baby’s heart structures, heartbeat, blood flow etc. If a heart defect is suspected, detailed imaging of the baby’s heart is performed.
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Genetic counselling: There is an increasing need for genetic counselling in conditions like advanced maternal age, having a previous child with a birth defect or a genetic abnormality, medicine or/and environmental exposures, etc. We have a very skilled and highly trained professional genetic counsellor who will review your detailed family history and discuss risk factors for birth defects. You will be provided with information on the tests available to diagnose abnormal foetal conditions as well as the risks and benefits of these tests.
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Genetic procedures: Procedures to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities like down syndrome, molecular and genetic defects like thalassemia include:
1. Chorionic Villus Sampling: Abnormalities in an unborn baby is detected from the cells of the placenta.
2. Amniocentesis: Information on your baby's health and genetic makeup can be obtained from the amniotic fluid samples of the mother.
3. Percutaneous Umbilical Blood sampling: Also known as Cordocentesis, percutaneous umbilical blood procedure uses the baby’s blood samples via the umbilical cord to detect certain genetic disorders, infections and blood conditions.
4. Fetal Blood Transfusion: Blood transfusion is done by inserting a needle into the umbilical cord which is guided by an ultrasound.
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Fetal therapy: Foetal anomaly or conditions are treated via therapeutic intervention using:
1. Invasive (surgical fetal therapy)
2. non-invasive methods (pharmacological fetal therapy).
3. Thoracoscopy: This is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of pleural (accumulation of fluid in the lungs)
4. Bladder Tapping: Involves facilitation of bladder emptying in babies with bladder dysfunction
5. Fetal Goitre: Enlargement of the foetal thyroid gland is diagnosed using ultrasound and treated by administering the thyroxin injection into the amniotic fluid.
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Antepartum foetal testing: Antepartum foetal testing involves assessing foetal well being through electronic foetal monitoring or ultrasound.
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Non-stress Tests: Also known as cardiotocography, the non-stress test is a non-invasive technique used to assess the baby’s overall health including contractions, heartbeat and baby’s movements.
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Biophysical Profiles: Involves assessment of the foetal heart rate monitoring, breathing, muscle tone, movements, and amniotic fluid level.
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Amniotic Fluid Assessment: The procedure involves assessment of the amniotic fluid volume.
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Prenatal Consultations: we have a team of specialists who offer consultations for high-risk pregnancies including pre-existing medical condition, medical complication during pregnancy, etc.
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Fetal Autopsy: An autopsy is conducted to know the cause of unexplained foetal loss using ultrasound findings including comprehensive external and internal examination and specialised tests like foetal X-ray, CT scan, histopathology and karyotype.
Contact us at the best hospital and get the finest treatment for fetal medicine in Delhi.
Facilities & Services
Our services for low-risk and high-risk pregnant women including:
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Obstetric Ultrasonography: Also called sonography or ultrasound scanning, obstetric ultrasonography produces pictures of the unborn baby using high-frequency sound waves. We have high-resolution 2D, 3D and 4D ultrasounds which allow us to see the images of the baby and diagnose many types of birth defects
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The First Trimester Down Syndrome Screening: Information on the baby’s risk for chromosomal conditions, including Down syndrome can be obtained in the first-trimester screening. Also called the first trimester combined test, first-trimester screening includes
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Blood test: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are measured in the mother’s blood sample.
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Ultrasound exam: The size of the space behind the baby's neck (nuchal translucency) is measured.
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FAQ's
Ideally, your first visit should be before becoming pregnant. This allows a doctor to provide counseling to help you prepare for pregnancy and also to identify any risk factors that can be reduced and address them before pregnancy. If your first visit is after pregnancy, the first step is confirmation of pregnancy and then counseling.
In Down syndrome, which is a genetic disorder, the child has more copies of chromosome 21. This causes varieties of changes in the baby’s facial features, mental development, and certain disabilities. Arrive at the top fetal medicine hospital in Dwarka Delhi to know more.
High blood pressure, diabetes, carrying multiple fetuses Age - Teens and women above 35 years of age are at higher risk of existing health complications in the mother. To get rid of the risks, visit the finest fetal medicine hospital in Dwarka Delhi.
Sonography does not cause any risks for either the unborn baby or the mother. Since sonography is performed externally on the skin, no possible risks are reported. Get a consultation at the leading fetal medicine hospital in Dwarka Delhi to get rid of the risks.
If any abnormalities or complications arise in the developing fetus, interventional procedures may be required to help the fetus survive or grow. Interventional treatments are only carried out if recommended by a multidisciplinary team of maternal-fetal medicine experts. All risks and options will be presented with advice to make the right decision. To get the best treatment visit the fetal medicine hospital in Dwarka Delhi.
During genetic counseling, your family’s medical history and medical records are reviewed. The counselor will help you understand the results of the genetic tests and determine if you or your unborn baby may be carrying genes for inherited disorders. Get the treatment at the best fetal medicine hospital in Dwarka Delhi.
In pregnancies, medical supervision comes highly recommended due to the risks of complications in pregnancy going unnoticed until it is too late. Regular scans and timely interventions are life-saving procedures that form a crucial part of prenatal care.
Your pregnancy can be at risk if you are younger than 17 years or older than 35 years, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or had premature labour or a child with a birth defect previously.
The first-trimester screening will give you early information about your baby's health and chances of having genetic disorders including Down syndrome or any birth defects.
Manipal Hospitals is committed to providing high-quality, state-of-the-art, personalised care that helps women safe throughout their pregnancy and become healthy, happy mothers. Our deeply involved team of maternal-fetal medicine specialists is a testament to this.
Reach out to us to learn more about prenatal care and book an appointment with our team of specialists!
