Foetal Medicine

High-Risk Pregnancy: All You Need To Know

With clinical and technological expertise, the doctors at Apollo Hospitals frequently handle high risk pregnancies. A pregnancy is considered high-risk if it has one or more of the following risk factors:

• Maternal age is under 20 or above 35.
• Multiple pregnancy.
• Obesity.
• Any birth defect or chronic illness such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, depression etc.
• Previous miscarriage, still birth or pre-term labor or preeclampsia etc.
• Any pregnancy complication like an abnormal placenta position, shortened cervix etc.
• Lifestyle habits like smoking, consuming alcohol etc.

Our Special Services Include

• Congenital Heart defect: We screen for heart defects in unborn babies, by doing an advanced heart scan as congenital heart defect is the most common birth defect in infants.
• Down Syndrome Screening: Down syndrome (T-21) is the most common case of mental retardation (1:800). It does not require family history. We actively screen every pregnant women for down syndrome to prevent it.
• Pre-Pregnancy Genetic counselling & Genetic Counselling for Genetic disorders like Thalassemia, Genetic blood disorders like Sickle cell anaemia & Haemophilia.
• High risk pregnancy management - like Twins, RH negative growth restricted foetus, mother with high BP & Down syndrome during pregnancies.

Some of the scans included are as follows:

Foetal medicine specialists are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions that may affect the development of an unborn baby. These conditions to name a few:

• Foetal Anomalies: Foetal medicine specialists are trained to diagnose and manage structural or genetic abnormalities in the foetus. This can include conditions such as congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, chromosomal abnormalities (e.g., Down syndrome), and skeletal abnormalities.
• High-Risk Pregnancies: Foetal medicine plays a crucial role in managing pregnancies that are considered high-risk. This can include pregnancies in women with pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets), maternal • age-related risks, or a history of previous complications during pregnancy.
• Foetal Growth Restriction:Foetal medicine specialists closely monitor foetal growth during pregnancy. If a foetus is not growing adequately or experiencing intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), interventions may be necessary to optimise foetal well-being and ensure proper development.
• Foetal Infections: Certain infections can affect the developing foetus during pregnancy. Foetal medicine specialists diagnose and manage conditions such as congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, toxoplasmosis, rubella, syphilis, and others, to minimise potential harm to the foetus.
• Rh Incompatibility: Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother has Rh-negative blood, and the foetus has Rh-positive blood. Foetal medicine specialists manage this condition by monitoring foetal blood type and administering Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) to prevent maternal antibodies from harming the foetus.
• Preterm Labour: Foetal medicine specialists work to prevent and manage preterm labour, which is labour that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation. They may recommend interventions to delay labour or administer medications to promote foetal lung maturation when early delivery is necessary.

At Venkateshwar Hospital, we understand that pregnancy can be a stressful time for expectant parents, and we are committed to providing a supportive and compassionate environment for all our patients. We strive to ensure that every patient receives personalised care and attention throughout their pregnancy journey.

Our Foetal Medicine department is equipped with the latest equipment, and specialists are at the forefront of research and development in the field of Foetal Medicine.

If you're looking for exceptional Foetal Medicine care, contact us today to schedule a consultation with our Foetal Medicine specialists.