Maternal-Fetal Medicine

• Evaluate and manage complex pregnancies.  
• Perform and interpret specialized prenatal ultrasounds and fetal imaging.  
• Diagnose and monitor fetal conditions.  
• Help manage maternal medical conditions that affect pregnancy.  
• Coordinate care with a patient’s primary OB-GYN and other specialists.  
• Develop individualized care plans to help achieve the healthiest possible outcomes for both mother and baby.  

If your pregnancy requires additional monitoring or you or your baby needs specialized care at birth, our team works closely with labor and delivery staff. If complications arise before delivery, we may recommend hospital-based monitoring so you and your baby can receive close care until birth. 

Our maternal-fetal medicine team has specialized expertise in fetal ultrasounds, which are used to assess any concerns with your baby's development. Specially trained sonographers capture detailed images and measurements of your baby, which are interpreted by maternal-fetal medicine physicians with advanced training in fetal development and high-risk pregnancy. 

Prenatal genetic counselors work with patients who have an increased chance of having a child with a birth defect or genetic condition. 

Patients who are already pregnant or are considering having a child in the future can meet with our board-certified genetic counselor to learn more about the condition in question, understand their risks more clearly, and discuss options for prenatal screening and testing. 

We provide access to advanced fetal care if needed. The WashU Medicine maternal-fetal medicine specialists and Fetal Care Center team provide the region’s most advanced care for fetal anomalies and conditions, including defects, neurological disorders, bladder obstructions, and other fetal conditions that may affect the baby’s health while in the womb, during delivery, and after birth. We are regional leaders in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of complex fetal conditions, with expertise in fetoscopic surgery and specialized surgical care after birth. We offer specialized evaluation and treatment for complex fetal conditions, including: 

• Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome  (TTTS) 
• Congenital heart disease (CHD) 
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia 
• Spina bifida, including myelomeningocele (MMC), meningocele, and spina bifida occulta 
• Chromosomal disorders 
• Cleft lip and cleft palate 
• Urinary tract anomalies 

 What are additional reasons I may see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist? 

• Prior stillbirth  
• Recurrent pregnancy loss or multiple prior losses  
• Substance use disorders  
• Cancer  
• Uterine abnormalities  
• Concerns about the baby’s growth or development 
• Diagnosed fetal condition or anomaly 
• Fibroids 
• Gestational diabetes 
• Multiple gestation (twins, triplets, or more) 
• Placenta accreta and other placental disorders 
• Preeclampsia or gestational hypertension 
• Pregnancies in which babies share a placenta (monochorionic twins) 
• Preterm labor or a history of preterm birth 
• Prior stillbirth 
• Recurrent pregnancy loss or multiple prior losses 

No, you do not need a referral to see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist or to seek a second opinion. However, your insurance may require a referral from your primary care provider or primary OB-GYN. 

Our goal is to deliver healthy babies and support your family, while providing the answers you need to feel informed and confident in your care. We help you face the physical and emotional challenges of a high-risk pregnancy or a baby with a fetal condition through perinatal behavioral health counselors and other resources.