Perinatal Care Defined
“Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians are high-risk pregnancy experts, specializing in the un-routine. For mothers-to-be with chronic health problems, we work with other specialists to keep mothers healthy as the female body changes, and the baby grows. We also care for mothers who face unexpected problems that develop during pregnancy.
In other cases, it is the baby who faces the un-routine. If birth defects are detected, we can start treatment before birth, to support babies with the best possible care.
”
As a board certified licensed maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Pozharny, along with her esteemed staff at UPC, takes care of patients with high-risk pregnancies. This will include, but not be limited to the following:
Pre-Conception Health
Learn about highly-specific conditions that could affect your baby and how to prepare your body, before you are pregnant. By thoroughly reviewing family health history, existing medical conditions, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs taken, UPC will be able to provide safe, scientifically-based routines to optimize your health.
Genetic Testing
Perhaps the most essential service that UPC specializes in, genetic testing identifies health problems in the developing fetus. It is imperative to stress the importance of visiting a qualified physician during pregnancy to determine which tests may be right for you. These include first trimester screening tests, cell free fetal DNA tests, chorionic villus sampling tests, and amniocentesis.
Prenatal Care
By tracking fetal growth and development, disease detection and prevention, and addressing nutrition, UPC ensures that you and your baby are healthy during pregnancy. Furthermore, a schedule of visits will be coordinated to monitor maternal health.
Ultrasounds
An ultrasound is a safe and painless imaging modality that produces an image of a fetus via vibration and sound transmission, never radiation. These scans are performed regularly throughout pregnancy visits to confirm the location of the pregnancy, age of the fetus, and the viability of pregnancy. Additionally, ultrasounds determine if birth defects are present, and can accurately identify additional complications.
Birth Options
Based on the individual nature and the specific testing/monitoring of the pregnancy, UPC will provide the proper determination for method of delivery, whether it be natural, vaginal, or C-Section. There will additionally be thorough discussions about intravenous medications, epidural anesthesia, and alternative medical treatment, as related to child birth. Lastly, UPC is qualified in providing the requirements and determining if vagina birth is achievable after a prior C-Section has taken place.
Nutrition
A healthy, well-balanced diet and exercise is critical to maintaining health, stamina, and strength. UPC can provide specific guidance and a thorough plan for individual patients, based on their medical history so as to avoid/include certain foods, vitamins + nutrients, and activities to combat disease, fatigue, stress, and other unwanted ailments.