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Perinatologists or maternal-fetal medicine specialists are the last word when it comes to High Risk Pregnancies. Their role becomes beneficial when a medical condition, congenital disorder or disease may cause pregnancy or delivery complications. Read on to know more about this High Risk Obstetrics specialty and the specialist.

Term Perinatologist Explained

A perinatologist is quintessentially an obstetrician-gynaecologist who is well versed in High Risk Obstetrics (HRO). The term maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist is also used to denote them. Their services are called upon when the pregnant person or the foetus is confronted with a health complication.
A chronic health condition demands you to work with a perinatologist before or shortly after becoming pregnant. At times, during pregnancy, a person may develop a condition that will entail extra monitoring from a perinatologist. A perinatologist also has a role to play if the foetus has congenital disorder or birth abnormality.

Role of A Perinatologist

A perinatologist deals with prenatal and postnatal care for people with higher risk of pregnancy, labour or delivery complications due to a health condition. Besides, they attend to preexisting conditions and the ones caused by pregnancy.
Perinatologist treat pregnant people as well as diagnose and manage health conditions in fetuses. In addition, they offer advanced testing for congenital disorders and provide information on how certain pregnancy conditions affect the fetus.
They undertake preconception counselling for underlying health conditions that may lead to complications for pregnancy. They also provide routine prenatal care and testing for high-risk pregnancies. Managing preexisting or new health conditions in a pregnant person is another one of their roles.
They make use of ultrasounds and other tests to diagnose genetic disorders or birth abnormalities and assist in labour and delivery. Postpartum complications are also taken care of by perinatologists.

Importance of a Perinatologist

You will be referred to a perinatologist if your pregnancy is high-risk or the foetus is liable to a complex medical issue or congenital condition. Minor pregnancy complications like high blood pressure or gestational diabetes are within the expertise of OBGYNs.
If the condition further declines beyond the usual capability of the OBGYN, the services of a perinatologist is called for. OBGYNs consult perinatologists on a regular basis for a second opinion. In some cases, people consult a perinatologist before. This is because they already know their pregnancy will be high-risk. On the odd occasion, a health condition develops due to pregnancy.
Listed below are the few reasons due to which your OBGYN may send you to a perinatologist.
– Preexisting conditions like a heart condition, lupus or diabetes.
– Severe high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
– Risk of pre-term labour.
– History of heart disease, seizures or kidney problems.
– Multiple miscarriages or stillbirths.
– Abnormal prenatal screening test.
– Expecting multiples.

Conditions or Diseases Treated

Perinatologists take care of chronic diseases in a pregnant person that could adversely affect the pregnancy or the foetus. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, bleeding and clotting orders, heart disease, kidney disease, autoimmune disease or genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease.
– Previous pregnancy complications can also be handled with the help of a perinatologist. Such complications can arise due to the following reasons:
– Early labour or premature rupture of the membranes.
– Miscarriages or stillbirths.
– Fetal growth restriction.
– Congenital or genetic disorders.
– Placental disorders like placental abruption or placenta previa.
Perinatologists are experts in High-Risk Obstetrics. Being referred to a perinatologist may come across as scary. But it does not mean something is wrong with your pregnancy. It just ensures the health of you and your foetus. Discuss your concerns with your OBGYN and feel free to ask your perinatologist questions about your condition or treatment.