Maternal Fetal Medicine
What is Maternal Fetal Medicine?
Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists (also called perinatologists) are doctors who provide specialized care to women during pregnancy. They are obstetricians who have done extra training to specialise in high-risk pregnancies- pregnancies where there may be a concern or complication that requires tailored management.
If a woman has a pre-existing medical condition, develops a condition while pregnant, or if there are any conditions or concerns with the fetus, you may be referred to an MFM specialist. Pregnancies where there is more than one fetus (twins, triplets, etc.) will also often be followed by MFM.
If you have been referred to our MFM program, you can expect an appointment where you will typically have an ultrasound and a one-on-one meeting with our nurses and doctors. We are partners in your health and pregnancy, and you and any chosen support system will be equally included in developing your individualized care plan.
What Types of Services Doe Maternal Fetal Medicine Offer?
A maternal fetal medicine (MFM) clinic or team offers specialized ultrasounds that take an in depth look at the fetus and pregnancy, special types of testing and procedures, counselling, and referrals to other specialists as needed. A pregnancy care provider such as a doctor, midwife, or nurse practitioner will refer a patient to MFM if they suspect specialized care might be needed.
At Beam, our MFM team offers specialized imaging specific to your pregnancy needs, NIPT blood draws, counselling with our medical team after a positive nuchal translucency screening or high risk NIPT results, referrals for amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, monitoring, management and follow up of high-risk pregnancies, and supportive educational resources tailored to your specific pregnancy and health needs.
How do I prepare for my MFM appointment?
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early for your appointment so that you can meet with our MFM nurse before your ultrasound. If you had previous testing or care in this pregnancy done outside of Alberta and you have the documentation, it is helpful to bring that with you. Appointment length varies depending on how many fetuses and how far along the pregnancy is, but 45-90 minutes is average.
5-27 weeks gestation: Come to your appointment with a moderately full bladder without discomfort. We recommend emptying your bladder 2 hours before your appointment and then drinking 250-500 mL of fluid. This should be completed 30 minutes before your exam. Please eat and take any regularly scheduled medications as usual.
28 weeks gestation and greater: You do not need to fill your bladder unless you are requested. Please eat, drink, and take any regularly scheduled medications as usual.
FAQs
Obstetrical ultrasounds can be done two ways:
- Transabdominal Ultrasound: In the privacy of your own exam room, you will be asked to uncover your abdomen. A Sonographer will apply a small amount of gel and move the ultrasound probe (transducer) over your abdomen and pelvis by hand. These types of ultrasounds may be standard 2D ultrasounds, 3D-delete, Doppler ultrasounds (to check blood flow), or fetal echocardiograms (to check the fetal heart). There should be no pain with this exam, although it can sometimes be uncomfortable with a full bladder. You will be given a sheet to wipe off the gel at the end of your exam.
- Endovaginal Ultrasound: In the privacy of your own exam room, you will be asked to undress from the waist down and cover your lower body with a sheet. The sonographer will return to the room when you are ready. A narrow wand with a sterile cover and gel on the end will be handed to you underneath the sheet. You may insert the tip of the wand into the vagina yourself (similar to where you place a tampon), and the sonographer will hold the outside end of the wand when you are ready. It will be moved around gently to capture the images, and your sonographer will explain what is happening. Please tell your team if you have any pain, discomfort, or concerns. This method is only used with your consent and is safe for pregnancy. We have female sonographers for this exam, and support people are welcomed if that is your preference.
Medical conditions or concerns with either the pregnant person or the fetus can make a pregnancy high risk. High risk doesn’t mean that something will go wrong; it means that the pregnancy needs to be closely watched by a specially trained health care team. Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, blood disorders, neurological conditions, or autoimmune conditions might qualify you for pregnancy care with maternal fetal medicine. More than one fetus (twins, triplets, etc.) or differences in your placenta or fetal development can also make a pregnancy high risk.
Most commonly people will have 3 ultrasounds in pregnancy, but this number changes depending on where you live, what information you wish to have, and personal factors about your health or pregnancy. It is normal to have extra ultrasounds in a pregnancy with more than one baby (twins, triplets), any medical condition that affects you or your current pregnancy (gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, autoimmune conditions etc.), or complications in your previous pregnancies.
You are welcome to bring support people and your children to your exam. We are a family friendly clinic! Obstetrical and MFM ultrasound appointments typically range from 30-90 minutes in length. We invite you to bring toys or snacks for your younger children. We know medical appointments can be challenging for many reasons, and we will work together to make this as stress free as possible for you.
5-27 weeks gestation: Come to your appointment with a moderately full bladder without discomfort. We recommend emptying your bladder 2 hours before your appointment and then drinking 250-500 mL of fluid. This should be completed 30 minutes before your exam. Please eat and take any regularly scheduled medications as usual.
28 weeks gestation and greater: You do not need to fill your bladder unless you are requested. Please eat, drink, and take any regularly scheduled medications as usual.
Ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive tool that is used worldwide as a standard for pregnancy care. There are no known risks to the health and safety of the woman or the fetus with ultrasound.
Yes. We are able to accommodate requests for female practitioners. Please let our booking staff know of any requests when you make your appointment.
Workshops
These workshops are open to anyone who is receiving services at Beam Radiology. They are free of charge, but we request that you please sign up in advance to ensure adequate space is available. You may attend as many workshops as you would like.
Your Health is Important to Us
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please
contact us. We look forward to supporting your journey to better health.
