High-risk Pregnancy Support
Virtual care visits with Mayo Clinic available at St. Luke’s
Support for a high-risk pregnancy requires a compassionate team of experts to evaluate and monitor you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. St. Luke’s partners with Mayo Clinic to offer advanced MaternaI Fetal Medicine (MFM) virtual care visits at St. Luke’s Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates.
What is Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM)?
Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM), also known as Perinatology, is a subspecialty of obstetrics (the branch of medicine that deals with pregnancy and childbirth). MFM focuses on managing and treating high-risk pregnancies. MFM specialists, known as maternal-fetal medicine specialists or perinatologists, have additional training and expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of complex and high-risk pregnancies.
What conditions could lead to a high-risk pregnancy?
Common conditions that could lead to a high-risk pregnancy include:
- Pregnancy in mothers age 35 or older
- Previous pregnancy with obstetrical complications
- Fetal health concerns
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia
- Maternal health complications prior to pregnancy
What can I expect at an MFM consult?
At your consultation, a medical assistant will bring you to a private exam
room and connect you virtually with a Mayo Clinic MFM specialist. The
physicians will review your personal health history, identify any concerns
and assess the potential need for genetic counseling.
An ultrasound tech will perform an ultrasound, with the MFM provider watching
in real-time. If any abnormalities are found, the MFM provider will discuss
and connect you with a Mayo Clinic specialist for further evaluation as
appropriate. The MFM provider will also recommend a plan of care for the
remainder of your pregnancy.
What are the benefits of this partnership?
This partnership has many benefits for St. Luke’s patients, including:
- World-class Mayo Clinic expertise, close to home via virtual care appointments
- Unique Mayo Clinic MFM service using real-time ultrasound, critical to detecting fetal abnormalities
- Continuity of care through a partnership between your obstetrician and the Mayo Clinic MFM specialist to create a plan for your prenatal care
- Access to Mayo Clinic neonatology and pediatric subspecialists
- An interdisciplinary team approach that ensures a comprehensive evaluation and care plan that meets your unique needs
- Family risk assessments to identify any history of birth defects to determine if genetic counseling is needed