Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists, or Perinatologists, focus on the diagnosis, consultation, and management of high-risk pregnancies. Complications which cause a pregnancy to be considered high-risk include:
Premature Labor
Advanced Maternal Age
Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension
Bleeding During Pregnancy
Diabetes
Asthma/Seizure Disorders
Post-Transplant Pregnancies
Fetal Anomalies
Growth Retardation
Renal Problems/Chronic Hypertension
History of Frequent Miscarriage
Our specialty-trained and board-certified in Maternal-Fetal Medicine providers include Drs. Carl V. Smith, Teresa Berg, and Paul Tomich. Dr. Serena Wu has recently joined the department after completing her training at the University of Chicago, and will be completing the certification process in the next 18 months. Teresa Stowe, APRN also sees patients and offers assistance. All four providers have years of experience working with physicians and patients to manage high-risk pregnancy. Daily interaction with other specialties as part of a team approach helps to ensure the patient the best possible care. In addition, weekly Perinatology conferences enrich the program through discussion of management options. Other specialties that participate in the patient's care include pediatrics, neonatology, genetics, and endocrinology. To understand a little more on the care you can receive and on our specialists, click here to read an article from a publication that featured a family that had a high-risk pregnancy and their wonderful outcome thanks in part to our specialists and services.
Prenatal Diagnostic Center
The Prenatal Diagnostic Center (PDC) allows our Perinatologists to monitor and diagnose pregnancies through genetic counseling, targeted ultrasound examination, genetic amniocentesis, non-stress testing (fetal monitoring), and 3-D ultrasound, as medically necessary. The PDC is fully accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
Maternal Transfers
In addition to providing diagnosis, consultation and continuing management of high-risk pregnancies, the MFM service provides emergent care for maternal transfers. An average of two to three patients per week are transferred from areas in Nebraska and Western Iowa to The Nebraska Medical Center at or immediately before delivery, in order to receive the special care that is required for a complication that has surfaced late in the pregnancy or during delivery.
Perinatal Outreach
Maternal-Fetal Medicine employs a perinatal outreach coordinator who works with area referring physicians and hospitals in order to meet the educational and clinical needs of referring physicians. Based on these efforts and the needs of physicians and patients in Greater Nebraska, we have now set up two satellite clinic locations for our MFM physicians to provide care on a monthly basis: Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings, and Contemporary Ob/Gyn in Kearney. These satellites allow patients to receive care from a specialist closer to home, and allow our physicians to interact more effectively with physicians in those cities.
