Highly specialised care for you and your unborn baby in a compromised pregnancy

Also known as perinatology, maternal and foetal medicine focuses on managing your health concerns if your pregnancy is compromised either by pre-existing conditions or by complications developing during pregnancy, as well as concerns regarding the health of the foetus.

The maternal and foetal specialist may do prenatal tests (tests before you become pregnant) and tests during your pregnancy to determine the health of the foetus, provide treatment and even perform in utero surgery — surgery during your pregnancy on the foetus in the womb.

Maternal and foetal care is one of the most rapidly evolving fields in medicine, especially in conditions associated with the foetus.

Maternal and foetal care

Other investigations to
determine anomalies

If a foetal anomaly or other condition is suspected, your obstetrician will discuss the findings with you as the parents to be and make recommendations.

Further tests which may be needed include the following:

  • Amniocentesis
    A test of the fluid surrounding your baby in the womb

  • Chorionic villus sampling
    A sample of tissue taken from the placenta

  • Blood tests

  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan

  • Foetal echocardiogram
    An ultrasound of the foetus’ heart

Even though identifying foetal anomalies or pregnancy risks may be alarming, it enables you and your partner to make informed decisions about how to improve the safety of your pregnancy and your baby's health.

Thanks to advances in maternal and foetal medicine, there are many inspiring cases of babies and their mothers who have been successfully treated before birth.