18 Weeks of Pregnancy Onwards
Click on a question to take you to the answer.
What is Fetal Medicine?
What is a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Why would I need a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
When can I have a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Who will perform my Fetal Medicine Consultation?
What happens during a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
When will I receive the results of my Fetal Medicine Consultation?
What are the risks when having a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
How experienced are your Fetal Medicine Specialists?
Do I need to make any preparation before a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Anything else I should know about the Fetal Medicine Consultation?
What is my next scan after the Fetal Medicine Consultation?
How do I book a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Top
What is Fetal Medicine?
Fetal Medicine is a specialist area of Obstetrics that focuses on the management of high risk pregnancies.
A Fetal Medicine Specialist is an Obstetrician who has received special training and is sometimes called a Perinatologist.
Not all Obstetricians are Fetal Medicine Specialists.
Top
What is an Fetal Medicine Consultation?
A Fetal Medicine Consultation is a service designed for patients who have an identified high risk pregnancy. Generally this would be any pregancy when an anomaly has already been detected in a previous scan.
Top
Why would I need a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Fetal Medicine Consultations specifically cater for patients who have had a fetal abnormality dignosed in a previous scan. Usually this would be after your 20 week Anomaly Scan, although occasionally it may be after your 12 week Nuchal Scan.
It is likely the previous scan may have identified one of these Pregnancy
Abnormalities.
Please note you should not book this service if you have received a high risk result from a Nuchal Scan screening. Our advice in this situatuion is generally that you should consider a diagnostic test such as a CVS or Amniocentesis.
Top
When can I have a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
You can have a Fetal Medicine Consultation performed any time from 18 weeks gestation. Before this time it is not possible to reliably examine the anatomy of an unborn child.
Top
Who will perform my Fetal Medicine Consultation?
This service is only performed by one of our highly experienced Fetal Medicine Specialists such as Mrs Pippa Kyle or Mr Darryl Maxwell.
Top
What happens during a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
During this appointment our Fetal Medicine Specialist will:
- Consult with you on your case history
- Analyse your previous scan reports
- Discuss the possible outcome of the scan
- Perform a detailed ultrasound examination of your baby's anatomy
- Discuss any findings and their implications
- Counsel you over the likely outcome of your pregnancy
- Produce a detailed medical report
- Suggest a future management plan
- Recommend a suitable specialist or specialists who may assist with your pregnancy or post natal care
Top
When will I receive the results of my Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Usually you will receive a written report at the end of your appointment, however some cases are more complex in which case you will receive your report 1 - 2 days after your appointment.
If necessary our consultant will also write to the primary carer of your pregnancy (midwife or Obstetrician) detailing the results of their findings.
Top
How experienced are your Fetal Medicine Specialists?
Our Fetal Medicine Specialists diagnose, treat and consult on hundreds of cases of fetal abnormalities every year.
If necessary they are also are able to call on assistance from other experts in particular fields e.g. a Consultant Geneticist.
Top
What are the risks when having Fetal Medicine Consultation?
As part of a normal Fetal Medicine Consultation you will usually receive a detailed scan by our specialist.
This would be a similar to a 20 Week Anomaly Scan so there would be no risk to mother or baby.
Top
Do I need to make any preparations before a Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Yes. You must bring all previous scan reports and notes relating to your pregnancy with you and details of any family history of birth abnormalities.
Please ensure that you disclose all the informatiion to our Fetal Medicine Specialist at the beginning of the consultation so that we may provide the best, most accurate consultation and diagnosis.
You do not need to have a full bladder before a Fetal Medicine Consultation.
Top
Anything else I should know about the Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Fetal Medicine Consultations are longer duration appointments ensuring that you will receive a comprehensive diagnosis, consultation and time to discuss your pregnancy with our specialist.
We are happy to provide gender identification during this appointment at no extra cost.
Booking a private Fetal Medicine Consultation with The London Ultrasound Centre ensures you will receive a qualified, expert opinion, with an appropriate appointment duration.
Top
What is my next scan after the Fetal Medicine Consultation?
Your next scan after a Fetal Medicine Consultation will depend on when in the gestation that you had the consultation.
Before 20 weeks your next scan will be the 20 Week Anomaly Scan.
If you have your Fetal Medicine Consultation after the 20 Week Anomaly Scan you may be referred for one or more Welfare Scans, or you may choose to have a 4D Baby Scan from 24 weeks (20 weeks for twins).
Top
How do I book an Fetal Medicine Consultation?
For prices and to make a booking please see our online booking website.
This service is only performed by qualified Fetal Medicine specialists on certain days so please be prepared to be flexible with your booking date.
Because of the specialist skills required for this service we usually ask for a £100 deposit to secure a booking.
Top
|
