Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Maternal-Fetal Medicine specializes in assisting women requiring high-risk care and is committed to being a Center for Excellence in Women's Health. With state of the art services and a wide range of experience, our board-certified physicians are able to treat and manage the various medical complications of pregnancy, including diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, premature rupture of the amniotic membranes, preterm labor, and RH disease. Our physicians can see patients for a one-time consultation and/or ultrasound, co-management with the referring physician, or if desired, transfer by the referring physician.

Working in collaboration with the primary care obstetrician, our Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists offer:

Management of pregnancy with diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions
Management of pregnancies with more than one baby and pregnancies in older women
Ancillary services to meet the needs of high-risk pregnancies: dieticians, diabetes educators, nurse educators, genetic counselors, social workers, and others
State of the art ultrasound equipment, including 3-D and 4-D ultrasound

Preconceptual counseling
A level III D (highest level) neonatal intensive care unit NICU
A full range of pediatric subspecialists, including pediatric surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, and others
A Regional Perinatal Center, which provides care to high-risk mothers and babies

There are multiple procedures to provide quality care throughout each stage of high-risk pregnancy, including:

First Trimester

Genetic Counseling
First-Trimester Screening

Chorionic Villus Sampling
Free Fetal DNA Screening

Co-Management of Chronic Disease
Pregnancy Termination (for documented anomalies)

Second Trimester

Genetic Counseling

Maternal Serum Alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) Screening

Serum Sequential Screening

Integrated Serum Screening

Free Fetal DNA Screening

Amniocentesis

Cordocentesis

MicroArray Analysis

Co-Management of Chronic Disease

Pregnancy Termination (for documented anomalies)

Third Trimester

Genetic Counseling
Amniocentesis (genetic and maturity)
Cordocentesis
MicroArray Analysis
Middle Cerebral Artery Doppler Velocity Screening
Fetal Hospice
Co-Management of Chronic Disease
Maternal Transfer

Other procedures to ensure the best maternal and fetal healthcare include:

Diagnostic or Targeted Ultrasound
Nuchal Translucency
Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring
Doppler Flow Studies
Fetal Echocardiography
Invasive Fetal Diagnostic Studies
Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling
Intrauterine Fetal Transfusion

Our board-certified genetics counselor is available to assist patients in the management of conditions such as advanced maternal age, abnormal maternal serum screening for birth defects, and family history of a genetic disease. All services are provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis for the high-risk obstetrical patient.

Augusta University Health has the region's only comprehensive care center for neonates and the only Children's Hospital of Georgia. This allows for the delivery of optimal medical care to women with high-risk pregnancies and to sick or preterm newborns. Augusta University Health houses the only facility in the state where newborns can get the full range of pediatric subspecialty services all under one roof.

The Maternal-Fetal Medicine section accepts patients on a referral basis and treats all aspects of the high-risk obstetrical patient.