Perinatal (maternal-fetal medicine) services
Maternal-fetal medicine doctors at Ascension Columbia St. Mary's - Perinatal Assessment Center in Milwaukee, WI, deliver advanced diagnostic tests and care during high-risk pregnancy, labor and delivery. We listen to understand your concerns and educate you about the preparations we are making for the birth of your child. As part of our Perinatal Care Program, our doctors specialize in the diagnosis of congenital fetal health conditions. Our OB, MFM and NICU care teams work together during labor and delivery to deliver a high level of specialty care for you and your baby.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or dial 9-1-1.
Specializing in maternal-fetal care
Our MFM doctors offer fetal diagnostic testing and evaluations, prenatal screenings and ultrasound sonography to monitor the growth and development of your baby. Other services include but are not limited to:
- One-time consultations and ultrasounds
- Co-management of your pregnancy with your referring doctor
- Transfer when desired by your referring doctor
If your doctor refers you for a high-risk pregnancy consultation at Ascension Columbia St. Mary's, the maternal-fetal medicine doctor and the nursing staff will perform the required testing. Then, we send detailed reports and maintain communication with your OB-GYN regarding the next steps of your care.
Our team is experienced in treating and managing various medical complications of pregnancy, including:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Preeclampsia
- Placenta previa
- Multiple gestations (twins and triplets)
- Genetic disorders
- Infectious diseases
- Premature rupture of the amniotic membranes
- Preterm labor and RH disease
Before pregnancy, our team can provide advice for women with chronic health conditions or those who have experienced complicated pregnancies in the past. At a preconception consultation, the maternal-fetal medicine specialist reviews a woman's medical and pregnancy history and helps to map out an optimal strategy for her next pregnancy.
Unexpected problems can arise during pregnancy, and women who have experienced complications during pregnancy in the past may face higher risks with their next pregnancy. We offer support and help manage concerns such as recurrent pregnancy loss. Women who experience multiple miscarriages may have an underlying health condition that makes it more difficult for them to carry a pregnancy. But you're not alone. We're here for you. Our specialists provide thorough evaluations and recommend treatments to reduce risk in the next pregnancy.
Your care team monitors for high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease. We offer guidance on treatments to manage mom's medical problems with minimal risk to the baby.
Advanced testing and procedures
Prenatal testing helps your doctor determine whether your baby will need extra levels of care before, during and after delivery. Some of the prenatal diagnostic tests available through our program include:
- Genetic counseling
- First-trimester screening
- Diabetic management
- Ultrasound (diagnostic or targeted)
- Doppler-flow studies
- Fetal echocardiography
- Amniocentesis
- Chorionic Villus Sampling
- Intravenous fetal therapy
- Fetal diagnosis
- Biophysical profiles
- Cervical cerclage
The Regional Perinatal Center is accredited in obstetrical ultrasound by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. All services are provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis for high-risk obstetrical patients.