The Maternal-Fetal Medicine program at Cooper University Health Care provides expert, high-quality, compassionate care for both high-risk and routine pregnancies.
If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, your maternal-fetal medicine specialist will work closely with your obstetrician to develop a care plan tailored to your personal needs and medical history. In most cases your obstetrician will continue to manage your pregnancy and deliver, while your maternal-fetal medicine team provides ongoing support and advanced care as needed. We also coordinate as needed with a neonatologist – a pediatrician who cares for newborns with special medical needs – to ensure the safest delivery and newborn care.
The Regional Perinatal Center
Our Maternal-Fetal Medicine program is one of only two of perinatal centers in South Jersey. Our center provides comprehensive services for mothers and babies from 22 weeks’ gestation to 7 days after birth, when many fetal conditions can emerge and post the highest risk.
Cooper’s specialists use the latest procedures, including advanced techniques such as obstetrical ultrasonography and fetal echocardiography, to diagnose and manage complex pregnancy-related conditions.
When to See a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
You may benefit from consultation with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist if you:
- Have a pre-existing health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), cancer, HIV or other infections, or are over age 35
- Are pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets) or have concerns about fetal growth or birth defects
- Have a history of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, placental separation, or placenta previa (placenta covering the cervix)
- Need help confirming your due date or completing a routine anatomy screening
What to Expect During a Consultation
Cooper’s maternal-fetal medicine specialists are available before and during pregnancy so you can have a complete understanding of the risks of pregnancy. During a consultation, our maternal-fetal medicine specialist will:
- Review your personal and family medical history
- Discuss any health conditions or risk factors
- Recommend appropriate testing or monitoring
- Work closely with your obstetrician and any other specialists involved in your care
Genetic Counseling Services
Genetic counseling is often recommended for patients over age 35, with a prior child affected by a genetic condition, or with specific concerns about medication or environmental exposures.
Our board-certified genetic counselor is available to:
- Review your family history and risk factors
- Explain the available tests and what they may review about your baby’s health
- Help you make informed decisions about screening and diagnostic options
Advanced Diagnosis Services
We offer a full range of services to support early and accurate diagnosis of fetal conditions, using techniques:
- Ultrasound imaging (2D, 3D, 4D): High-resolution imaging to identify birth defects
- Down syndrome screening: Certified by the Maternal Fetal Medicine Foundation to perform sequential screening that, with blood tests, detecting 90% of Down syndrome and Trisomy 18 cases
- Fetal echocardiography: Detailed heart imaging in collaboration our pediatric cardiology team
- Genetic testing: Including chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis for chromosomal analysis
- Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS): For diagnosing and treating fetal anemia
- Antepartum fetal testing: Includes non-stress tests, biophysical profiles, and amniotic fluid assessment for babies at higher risk for problems prior to delivery.
Why Choose Cooper for Maternal-Fetal Care?
- Extensive experience: Cooper's Maternal-Fetal Medicine program was the first of its kind in South Jersey and is one of the largest and most experienced programs in the region.
- Highly trained experts: Our maternal-fetal medicine physicians have completed advanced training in high-risk obstetrics and are board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- Ultrasound specialists: Cooper’s maternal-fetal medicine doctors are experts in performing ultrasounds on women with high-risk as well as low-risk pregnancies. Cooper is one of only a few sites in South Jersey that is accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
- Accurate detection of birth defects: Maternal-fetal medicine specialists, who focus only on pregnancy, have a higher detection rate of birth defects than most radiologists, who spend much of their time performing other body imaging studies. We pride ourselves on accurate detection of birth defects without over-estimating the risks.
- Access to the latest medical advances: Our maternal-fetal medicine physicians all hold faculty positions at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, so we stay up to date on the latest diagnostic and treatment advances, and on new research on complicated pregnancies.
- Locations close to you: We have maternal-fetal medicine offices at convenient locations throughout South Jersey.
Schedule an Appointment
To schedule an appointment with a Cooper maternal-fetal medicine specialist, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737).