Fetal Medicine (GP information)
Introduction
The Fetal Medicine Unit cares for women whose unborn babies are at risk of, or affected by, a serious abnormality.
We treat around 1000 women each year from across Luton, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and we have a team of specialists with extensive experience in fetal medicine that diagnose, counsel and offer specialist tests or treatments (see list below) to pregnant women whose unborn babies are affected by serious conditions. We have the support of a dedicated specialist fetal medicine midwife and we work closely with fetal cardiologists, geneticists, neonatal consultants and paediatric surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
We also monitor babies with growth restriction, multiple pregnancies (twins/triplets) and babies at risk of severe fetal anaemia. Some women have medical conditions that place their unborn baby at risk and we monitor these mothers very closely.
We hold regular meetings with the neonatal consultants and geneticists to discuss the optimal management of both mother and baby. When it comes to delivery, along with the neonatal team, we plan the best time, place and mode of delivery for the women we care for.
Referral Process
Indication for Referral
- History of chromosomal abnormality in a previous pregnancy
- History of fetal structural abnormality in a previous pregnancy
- Family history of cardiac abnormality
- Women with genetic disease requesting invasive tests
- Women requesting invasive tests to exclude chromosomal abnormality
- Woman who are high risk of neural tube defect following mid trimester serum screening
- Women with a suspected fetal abnormality
- Women who may benefit from uterine artery Doppler at 23 weeks
- Fetal growth restriction
- Cervical length scans
- Suspected placenta accreta/increta/percreta
- Significant blood group antibodies that can lead to fetal anaemia
- Medically indicated assessment of fetal gender (for sex chromosome linked diseases)
- Screening in multiple pregnancies
- Complications in multiple pregnancies
- Monitoring of twin to twin transfusion syndrome
We accept verbal referrals from GPs via Bleep 188
Procedures Provided
Specialist services provided
- First trimester nuchal translucency scans
- Detailed second trimester fetal anomaly scans
- Uterine artery Doppler
- Maternal cervical length measurement
- Fetal growth and fetal Doppler scans
- Assessment of fetal anaemia
- 3D and 4D Scans
- Multiple pregnancy assessment
- Fetal echocardiography clinic
- Pre-pregnancy counselling
- Post-natal counselling
Procedures performed
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
- Amniocentesis
- Amniodrainage
- Multifetal reduction
- Feticide
Clinics
Fetal Medicine clinics
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Mornings
Tuesday and Wednesday Afternoons
Fetal Echocardiography clinic
One Wednesday afternoon a month (with visiting Consultant cardiologist from Great Ormond Street Hospital)
Patient Information Leaflets
Clinicians - Consultants/Specialist Nurses
Fetal Medicine (Maternity Services)
Fetal Medicine (Maternity Services)
Useful Contacts
Zoe.Radwell@ldh.nhs.uk
pals@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk
Zoe.Radwell@ldh.nhs.uk
Angela.O'Brien@ldh.nhs.uk
Heather.Spackman@ldh.nhs.uk
Jayne.McClean@ldh.nhs.uk
PALS@ldh.nhs.uk