Perinatology (Risk Pregnancy)

Perinatology is a subspecialty of obstetrics concerned with the care of the fetus and complicated, high-risk pregnancies. Perinatology is also known as maternal-fetal medicine; the maternal-fetal medicine specialist typically works in consultation with the obstetrician.

Some of the conditions evaluated by Yeditepe University Hospital maternal-fetal specialists include:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  
• Preeclampsia (toxemia)
  
• Maternal metabolic diseases, including diabetes (both pregestational and gestational types)
  
• Infectious diseases (to include parvovirus, toxoplasmosis, hepatitis, HIV, and AIDS)
  
• Platelet alloimmunization (NAIT or FMAIT) (e.g. Rh negative mother sensitized to an Rh positive fetus)
  
• Maternal lupus (collagen vascular disorder)
  
• Poor past obstetrical history (e.g. past preterm deliveries, preterm labor, preterm cervical dilatation, premature rupture of membranes, repetitive pregnancy loss)
  

• Suspected abnormal fetal growth
  
• Macrosomia (a baby that is too large)
  
• Fetal growth restriction (a baby that is too small)
  

• Cardiac disease
  
• Renal disease
  
• Gastrointestinal disease
  
• Cystic fibrosis

Yeditepe University Hospital’s specialists in various fields work side by side to diagnose and provide comprehensive care for the following:

• AFP (alpha fetoprotein) blood test (including the suspicion of a neural tube defect)
  
• Antenatal serum screening (triple screen/quad screen) with an increased risk/suspicion of a chromosomal abnormality such as Trisomy 21 [Down syndrome], Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18
  
• The need for invasive fetal testing procedure(s) or other in utero therapeutic techniques (i.e., blood sampling/transfusion, platelet infusion, fetal bladder stent placement, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis (amnio) for maternal age or other factors).