Maternal Fetal Medicine

Maternal-Fetal Specialists Care for High-Risk Pregnancies and Vulnerable Babies

Whether you choose us because of a past pregnancy complication, a chronic health condition or an unexpected health issue for you or your baby, our board certified maternal-fetal doctors, neonatal specialists and pediatric subspecialists are committed to delivering the best possible results for your family.

Expectant mothers often come to us through a referral from an obstetrician or family doctor. In these cases, we can play a consulting role of co-managed care with your physician, or we can be your main source of care during pregnancy.

Our maternal-fetal specialists differ from other obstetricians and gynecologists because of their extra training in two areas:

• High-risk pregnancies. We treat and monitor expectant mothers with health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, or pregnancy complications such as genetic traits, prior preterm birth, early labor, bleeding, accidents, gestational diabetes or infections.
• High-risk babies. We provide highly-skilled care for babies who have birth anomalies or problems with development, using advanced diagnosis and treatments that support optimal health—before, during and after delivery.

We assemble all the specialists needed to manage your baby’s health—and yours.

Why See a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist

Our integrated approach to caring for expectant moms and newborns gives families access to important resources for high-risk pregnancies, including:

• Expert Prenatal Evaluation. Our Prenatal Diagnosis Program evaluates mothers and babies through various tests, such as prenatal blood tests and prenatal ultrasound. We also have targeted diagnostic tools that are more advanced than the early tests used to screen mothers and unborn children for possible health problems. This allows our specialists to give early maternal and fetal care for many conditions. Families affected by a genetic condition also benefit from an expert team of genetic counselors who can address their concerns.
• Customized Care for You and Your Baby. No two pregnancies are the same. Your physicians meet often and work together to coordinate customized care for you and your baby. When we diagnose a serious health problem, we gather important family members and all the specialists necessary to treat you and your child. In prenatal consultation, our doctors answer your questions and consult with you to develop a plan of care that covers you and your child. 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 a likely path after you deliver.
• The Right Care at the Right Time. Babies with one or more health problems may start life in one of our statewide neonatal intensive care units (NICU) or the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health—the highest level of care for newborns requiring advanced care and treatment, and also one of the largest in the Midwest. As babies progress, we have the primary care and specialty expertise to support your family through your child’s development. Any baby who receives care at our Level IV NICU at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health may have a higher risk for developmental problems. These children are eligible to participate in a free program that follows them closely through their first two years to make sure they have early treatment if needed. As Indiana’s only nationally-ranked healthcare resource for children, we are prepared to manage your child’s care for as long as you need us.
• Support for Your Family. For many families, navigating a hospital or a health condition is a foreign experience. We want every family to feel as comfortable as possible at Riley at IU Health. Our partnership with your family may start with NICU Nest—a program developed by parents who have been where you are. They provide tours of labor and delivery, and the Level IV NICU at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. NICU Nest helps you tap parental resources, including the NICU Companion App and educational materials to help you learn to care for your baby at home. We also offer financial counseling to help your family manage the expense of healthcare and bereavement counseling to support families through the emotional trial of a health challenge. Our neonatal and maternal-fetal medicine nurse practitioners serve as ambassadors to families. Their job is to aid communication that flows between Riley at IU Health specialists, you and any referring physicians.

For families whose pregnancies are anything but routine, Riley at IU Health Maternal Fetal Medicine is Indiana’s leader in expert care that covers the health of mother and child. We offer a wide spectrum of multidisciplinary healthcare, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our nurses, social workers and specialists meticulously coordinate your evaluation, diagnosis and treatment to make a seamless process for you and your family.