At Riley Children’s Health, our team of highly skilled Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists are committed to delivering comprehensive and compassionate care for mother and baby. We are here to provide peace of mind and guide you to a safe pregnancy and delivery.
Leaders in treating high-risk pregnancies
Leaders in treating high-risk pregnancies
A MFM specialist is a doctor with specialized training in high-risk pregnancies and babies. These specialists have a traditional obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) education but with three additional years of advanced training in the treatment of pregnancy complications. MFM specialists treat and observe expectant mothers with acute and chronic medical conditions or pregnancy complications. They also provide care for babies who have birth defects or developmental problems.
Your OB/GYN or family medicine doctor may refer you to our highly skilled team of MFM specialists if you’ve had a past pregnancy complication, a chronic medical condition, or an unexpected maternal health issue. Whatever your situation, our team of experts is committed to delivering the best possible care for your family.
What to expect at Riley Children’s
What to expect at Riley Children’s
Expert Prenatal Evaluation
At Riley Children’s, we offer an integrated approach to caring for expectant moms and newborns. If suspected to have a high-risk pregnancy, our prenatal diagnosis program first evaluates mothers and babies through a detailed ultrasound, genetic screening and tests, and various diagnostic testing. We offer prenatal genetic counseling for patients and families with a known or at risk maternal, fetal and family genetic condition. This allows our specialists to identify possible health problems earlier and determine the best treatment options.
Customized Care for You and Your Baby
In a prenatal appointment, our doctors answer your questions and consult with you to develop a plan of care for you and your child. If your baby is found to have a high-risk fetal condition, the Fetal Center supports you and your family. Rather than sending you from one specialist to the next, we are all in the same room—at the same time—to offer a clear picture of your situation. We explain how your baby’s birth will go and the path after delivery.
Evaluation and Counseling
The Fetal Center offers comprehensive evaluation and counseling for expectant mothers with high-risk fetal conditions.
The Right Care at the Right Time
The Right Care at the Right Time
After delivery, babies with one or more health problems may start life in one of our neonatal intensive care units (NICU) or the Level IV NICU at Riley Hospital for Children—which offers the highest level of care for newborns. Often babies who receive care in our NICUs are at a higher risk for developmental delays. These children are eligible for our Newborn Follow-Up Program, a free program that monitors your baby’s growth and development.
Whether you anticipated your child’s stay in the NICU or it was unexpected, our nationally ranked neonatologists strive to deliver well-rounded support for you and your growing family.
Support for You & Your Family
While your baby’s health is at the forefront of your mind, you may also be worried about the financial impact of a hospital stay. NICU Nest offers healthcare financing consultations to help you prepare to pay for your hospital stay, including assistance applying for programs specific to your family’s needs. NICU Nest also provides parent and newborn education, suggestions on bonding with baby while in the hospital, and tours and information to help navigate Riley Children’s.
Bereavement counseling to support families through the emotional trial of a health challenge is also an option, and our nurse practitioners serve as ambassadors to families answering any questions or concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a high-risk pregnancy? How common is it?
A high-risk pregnancy is one with increased health risks for the expectant mother, unborn child, or both. High-risk pregnancies are not uncommon and with early prenatal care many women still have a safe delivery and a healthy baby.
Our MFM specialists are experts in this area and will help you and your family navigate any potential pregnancy complications which may include referral to the Fetal Center. The Fetal Center coordinates additional testing and consultation with multiple specialties to provide a more clear picture of your situation.
What types of conditions cause high-risk pregnancies?
A mother’s maternal age, lifestyle choices, and pregnancy history may contribute to a high-risk pregnancy. For instance, smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol may put a pregnancy at risk. Maternal health problems before pregnancy such as high blood pressure, obesity, and heart or blood disorders, can also increase pregnancy risks. When a mother is carrying more than one child or a complication has developed during pregnancy, there may also be some risk for the expectant mother.
To prevent a high-risk pregnancy, consult with your healthcare provider and seek regular care at prenatal visits to monitor the health of you and your baby.
What should I expect at my first MFM appointment?
When visiting an MFM specialist at Riley Children’s, you should expect to discuss your medical history in-detail including any past pregnancy complications or other health concerns. We want to learn more about you during your fist visit and answer any questions you may have as a partner in your healthcare. You can anticipate routine pregnancy lab work and screenings along with additional testing as determined by our healthcare providers. From here, we will actively plan the rest of your pregnancy through delivery and postpartum.
Why choose Riley Children’s for MFM care?
When your family faces a high-risk pregnancy, you need a partner who can deliver the highest level of maternal-fetal medicine. Riley Children’s is home to Indiana’s largest team of MFM specialists and we are highly skilled in caring for expectant mothers and unborn babies. Our team works side by side with the state’s leading neonatologists, pediatrics specialists, and your family to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Conditions & Services
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Conditions Treated
Our board-certified, nationally known physicians use advanced research, diagnosis and treatments to care for you and your baby. Here are just a few of the conditions the Riley Maternal-Fetal Medicine department treats.
- Abdominal Wall Defects
- Anemia
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome
- Chorioangioma
- Chronic Hypertension
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Gastroschisis in Babies
- Gestational Hypertension
- High Blood Pressure in Kids
- Hirschsprung's Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydronephrosis
- Hydrops Fetalis
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Neuroblastoma
- Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome
- Omphalocele
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Prior Preterm Birth
- Red Blood Alloimmunization
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
- Tracheoesophageal Fistula
- Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion (TRAP) Sequence
- Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Vasa Previa
- Ventricular Septal Defects
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Services Offered
We offer a number of different Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.
- Amniocentesis
- Chorionic Villus Sampling
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
- Fetal Blood Sampling and Intrauterine Transfusion
- Pediatric Genetic Counseling
- Pre-conception Genetic Counseling
- Prenatal Blood Tests
- Prenatal Genetic Counseling
- Prenatal Ultrasound
- Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation (SFLP)
Doctors and
Locations
Doctors
Find a Location Near You
Find a Location Near You
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
Sort through 6 facilities offering Maternal-Fetal Medicine care by entering your city or zip below.
Related Programs & Departments
Related Programs & Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
- Cardiovascular Genetics Program
- Fetal Center
- Maternity & Newborn Health
- Medical & Molecular Genetics
- Neonatology (NICU)
- Newborn Follow-up Program
- Outpatient-Based Opioid Treatment Program
- Prenatal Diagnosis Program
- Reproductive Health Program for Adolescents & Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
- Riley Heart Center
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Health Professionals
For Health Professionals
Riley at IU Health reaches out to Indiana’s healthcare professionals to improve care for mothers and babies through training. Follow our links to learn more about continuing medical education opportunities happening around the state.
Maternal-fetal specialists welcome referrals from gynecologists, obstetricians, primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals. To arrange care for patients who are at risk for a complicated pregnancy, contact us at 317.944.7010 or by fax at 317.968.1028.
Refer A Patient
Contact Maternal Fetal Medicine at 317.944.7010 or by fax at 317.968.1028.
Refer A PatientResearch
Riley at IU Health maternal-fetal specialists use evidence-based techniques informed by research, including collaborative studies with the Indiana University School of Medicine. Our physicians study a wide range of health problems, including research to identify new methods for detecting and treating women at risk for premature birth, which can increase the rate of infant mortality and give surviving children a higher risk of cardiovascular, lung and metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Education
We provide specialized training in prenatal diagnosis, labor and delivery, ultrasound imaging and high-risk or complicated pregnancies. All medical students, residents and fellows involved in training or care are fully supervised by experienced physicians at Riley at IU Health.