Women may be at increased risk for complications if they have high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus or another medical condition that would be affected by pregnancy or that may affect the pregnancy. Pregnancy-related problems, such as expecting two or more babies, premature labor, or a concern about the developing fetus may indicate a consultation with a perinatologist. The vast majority of women are referred to perinatologists by their obstetricians or infertility specialists. Women may be referred in early pregnancy because they have a medical condition that puts them at risk for complications, such as a history of premature delivery or pregnancy loss. Or, they may be seen for help with conditions such as preeclampsia that occasionally develop later in pregnancy.
Some women see a perinatologist even before they become pregnant.
Some patients refer themselves to the Perinatology Service at Greenwich Hospital. Though a woman may see a perinatologist several times during a pregnancy, her own obstetrician will continue to manage the pregnancy and will deliver the baby. The perinatologist works closely with a woman's obstetrician to develop a care management plan tailored to the patient's individual needs and history. As part of the Department of Women and Children's Services, Greenwich Hospital's Perinatology Service offers maternal and fetal medical management, monitoring, ultrasound, genetic counseling, diabetes education, and more. Perinatologists make sure women understand how an illness may affect their pregnancy and how a pregnancy may affect an underlying maternal condition.