The Fetal Diagnostic Center provides prenatal testing for expectant mothers, whose pregnancies have been determined “high risk.” Patients are usually referred to the Fetal Diagnostic Center by their obstetrician’s office who schedules an appointment for the patient.
Monitored By Experts in High-Risk Pregnancies
Diagnostic care is performed by experienced labor and delivery nurses and perinatologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, who specialize in high-risk pregnancies. These specialists can identify if the baby is in distress and knows how to monitor the mother’s progress accurately. It also allows the perinatologist to determine if it is safe to continue the pregnancy or consider an early delivery option.
Diagnostic Care
Diagnostic care for high-risk expectant mothers includes:
- Non-stress Test - The non-stress test involves attaching two belts to the mother’s abdomen, one that measures the baby’s heart rate and another that measures contractions in the uterus.
- Contraction Stress - A contraction stress test is done at 34 or more weeks of pregnancy. Labor contractions are started on the expectant mother by injecting the hormone, oxytocin.
- Amniotic Fluid Index - The Amniotic Fluid Index is used to determine how much amniotic fluid is present around the baby in the mother’s uterus.
- Biophysical Profile - The biophysical profile measures a baby's muscle tone, movement, heartbeat, breathing and the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby during pregnancy.