Perinatal Center at Bethesda North Hospital
Perinatal Center Information
Hours
Monday through Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking and Directions
The Perinatal Center is located in Bethesda North Hospital, 10500 Montgomery Road, in Montgomery.
Park in the Visitor Lot in front of the hospital. Enter through the Main Entrance and take the elevators located down the right hallway to the Second Floor.
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When you are expecting a baby, you want the best of everything for your child. The Perinatal Center at Bethesda North Hospital combines state-of-the-art technology with superior medical care to offer quality prenatal testing, which will help your obstetrician monitor your progress throughout your pregnancy.
To schedule an appointment, call (513) 569-6777.
Services
The Perinatal Center provides routine ultrasound tests for normal pregnancies, as well as more in-depth prenatal testing and genetic counseling for women who are facing complicated pregnancies due to a personal or family history of genetic disease or whose babies are at risk for birth or chromosomal abnormalities. All testing is overseen, reviewed and interpreted by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, a physician with specialized training in prenatal testing.
Prenatal Tests
The Perinatal Center provides the following tests for women who are facing complicated pregnancies:
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.
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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