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Services
Every year, the maternal-fetal medicine specialists at the Seton Center for High-Risk Obstetrics care for hundreds of women with complicated and high-risk pregnancies, helping them manage the unexpected with comprehensive prenatal testing and genetic counseling.
Prenatal Diagnosis
Your unique family history may give your maternal-fetal medicine specialist clues regarding medical conditions that you or your baby could be at risk of developing during your pregnancy. The Seton Center provides the following comprehensive testing for women who are facing complicated pregnancies or whose babies are at risk for birth or chromosomal abnormalities:
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of your baby. It can answer many questions about your baby's development, growth and anatomy, and can determine the presence of multiple pregnancies and/or gender.
Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a procedure that allows your baby to be tested for genetic disorders. The prcoedure is performed at 15 weeks gestation or later. During amniocentesis, an obstetrician uses ultrasound to carefully guide a thin needle through your abdomen and into the uterus. A small amount of amniotic fluid, which surrounds the baby, is collected.
Most women have amniocentesis to test for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. Amniocentesis also may be used to detect the baby's lung maturity and infection. Testing for open defects of the spine, such as spina bifida, can be accomplished by measuring a protein called alphafetoprotein (AFP) in the aminotic fluid.
Chorionic Villus Sampling
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is another procedure that tests for certain genetic defects, including chromosomal abnormalities. The obstetrician inserts a thin needle through the abdomen into the uterus to collect a sample of the developing placenta. This procedure can be performed as early as 10 weeks gestation, however, unlike amniocentesis, CVS cannot detect open spinal defects.
Non-Stress Test
External fetal monitoring is used to measure the baby's wellbeing and placental function by graphing the accelerations in heart rate that correspond with the baby's movement. This test is typically performed during the third trimester.
Biophysical Profile (BPP)
By using ultrasound and fetal heart monitoring, the BPP test measures the baby's heart rate, breathing activity, movement, fetal tone and the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. It is more comprehensive than a non-stress test.
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Genetic Counseling
If you have had a baby with birth abnormalities or if there is a family history of developmental complications or a mental handicap, your obstetrician might recommend that you meet with a genetic counselor before you become pregnant or during your pregnancy.
You might benefit from genetic counseling if you:
- Are age 35 and older at the time of delivery
- Have had chemical, drug or radiation exposure during pregnancy
- Have a personal or family history of mental retardation, inherited disorders or birth defects
- Have a history of stillbirths, infant deaths or miscarriage
- Have had an abnormal maternal serum screen for chromosomal or neural tube defects
- Have had an ultrasound that shows the presence of a fetal abnormality
- Have been told there is a suspected or known problem with the pregnancy
A genetic counselor can explain tests that are available and test results, provide information about various conditions, and discuss the chance that a condition might occur again in a family. If a birth abnormality or other problem is diagnosed furing pregnancy, the genetic counselor can connect you with other families in similar situations. The genetic counselor also can work with your physician, neonatologist and other pediatric specialists to develop a plan for your baby's care during pregnancy and after delivery.
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Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati Care Coordination
A nurse coordinator provides referring physicians and families information about the causes, effects and evaluation of babies with birth abnormalities. The coordinator also will arrange for any needed diagnostic testing, specialty consultation and a comprehensive multiple disciplinary team evaluation for your family from professionals at the Fetal Care Center.
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