High Risk Pregnancy

Advanced Procedures and Programs

The OSU Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine is a world-class diagnostic and treatment center. The members of the staff are extensively trained in the field of maternal fetal medicine and in the treatment of women who anticipate or are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy. Our team offers the most expert and compassionate care available to you and your baby.

We are equipped with the latest technology and armed with the most up-to-date knowledge in the field. Our multidisciplinary team of experts, including perinatologists, ultrasonographers, genetic counselors and nurses, stands ready to provide you with the kind of accurate prenatal evaluations, fetal monitoring and state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures that you and your baby deserve.

Screening and Diagnostic Procedures

Because we are actively involved in clinical research, we are constantly searching for better ways to care for you and your pregnancy. OSU Maternal Fetal Medicine offers the latest technologies for prenatal screening, diagnosis and treatment, including:

Amniocentesis — Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnostic test that can identify or rule out chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome, certain birth defects such as open spina bifida, or genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis. This information is obtained by studying a small sample of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby. Amniocentesis is usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) — Chorionic villus sampling is a prenatal diagnostic test that can identify or rule out chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome and certain genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis in the baby. CVS is typically performed between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. The test is done by sampling a small amount of tissue from the developing placenta (called chorionic villi). The cells from this tissue are sent to a special laboratory to have the desired tests performed.
Doppler Studies — Measures the flow of blood through the umbilical cord, which helps in assessing the health of the placenta.
Fetal Blood Typing — This procedure is also referred to as a cordocentesis or percutaneous umbilical blood samplings (PUBS). It involves sampling a small amount of the baby’s blood from the umbilical cord for laboratory analysis. Fetal blood sampling can be used to help diagnose, treat and monitor various conditions throughout pregnancy.
Fetal Echocardiogram — A special type of ultrasound used specifically to evaluate the structure and function of the baby’s heart. This type of ultrasound may be performed to help assess the presence of a congenital heart defect.
First Trimester Screening — OSU Maternal Fetal Medicine was the first in central Ohio to offer a newer, faster and more accurate non-invasive screening procedure that combines blood tests and ultrasound to deliver a personalized risk assessment for Down syndrome, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13). First trimester screening (also called Ultrascreen^®) allows us to provide our patients with information about the health of their pregnancy as early as 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Microarray Analysis Test — Your doctor may order a special chromosome test, called a microarray, because you, your child, or someone in your family may have a genetic condition.
Quad Screening — This is a blood test that screens for open neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly, for abdominal wall defects and for chromosome changes such as Down syndrome and trisomy 18. The screening is performed during the second trimester of pregnancy, typically between 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy.
Targeted Ultrasound — Specialized ultrasound technologies and certified ultrasonographers providing state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging.

Services and Programs

Thankfully, most pregnancies go smoothly and most babies are born healthy. However, if a complication arises, the team of perinatologists at OSU stands ready to assist you with a variety of programs to meet your unique needs.

A Fetal Treatment Program that provides our patients with an individualized, compassionate and complete plan of care from diagnosis to delivery.
Our Diabetes in Pregnancy Program was established over 25 years ago and continues to provide the latest obstetrical and medical care for pregnant women with diabetes. We are the only high-risk pregnancy center in central Ohio to have fully dedicated diabetes education nurses.
A Prenatal Diagnosis and Genetics Program staffed by three board-certified genetic counselors. The program provides a wide array of services including risk assessment, counseling for unexpected ultrasound findings, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling, and DNA and enzyme analysis.
A one-of-a-kind, multidisciplinary outpatient Prematurity Program for women with a history of preterm birth, multiple gestation, cervical surgery, uterine malformations or preterm labor in the current pregnancy.
In Hospital Care: The Ohio State University Medical Center serves as a tertiary perinatal center for central and southeast Ohio, in cooperation with the Neonatology Service at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Pre-Conceptual Counseling offers pre-pregnancy consultations to assist in your preparations for pregnancy.