Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM)

Why See a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) 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 care to moms or baby for many conditions. Families affected by a genetic condition also benefit from our expert team of genetic counselors who can address their concerns.

Customized Care for You and Your Baby

No two pregnancies are the same. Your doctors 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 a prenatal, 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 NICU at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health—the highest level of care for newborns requiring advanced care and treatment. Our NICU is 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 at IU Health may have a higher risk for developmental problems. These children are eligible to participate in our Newborn Follow-up Program, a free program that follows babies 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 both mom and baby. We offer a wide spectrum of multidisciplinary healthcare, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our nurses, social workers and specialists coordinate your evaluation, diagnosis and treatment to make a seamless process for you and your family.