Maternal Fetal Medicine

At Ochsner Health, women with high-risk pregnancies no longer have to leave the region for care. Ochsner offers high-risk pregnancy care in New Orleans, Covington, Lafayette, Raceland and Gretna, Louisiana. Ochsner Health perinatologists, experts in maternal fetal medicine, have the skill and experience to handle pregnancies requiring a higher level of care. Best of all, they provide this exceptional care close to home, so you can stay near your loved ones every step of the way.

The Ochsner Health team is here for you every step of the way, from planning for pregnancy to caring for high-risk pregnancies. Ochsner offers the only maternal medicine fellowship in Louisiana, training physicians to deliver the highest quality care for high-risk pregnancies, prenatal genetics and maternal medical complications.

You may benefit from Ochsner’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Program if:

You were 35 years or older when your baby was conceived
You are carrying multiples, including twins, triplets or more
You have a family history of genetic disorders or birth defects
You have a history of preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy and postpartum) or gestational diabetes
You’ve had a previous premature delivery, miscarriage or stillbirth
You have a complication, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, an infectious disease, gastrointestinal issues, a cardiopulmonary condition or an autoimmune disorder
You have placental anomalies
You have a pregnancy recently diagnosed with a birth defect or congenital anomaly
You had a pregnancy in the past with a birth defect or congenital anomaly
You want a second opinion about a recent fetal diagnosis

Learn more about Fetal Care at Ochsner.

More women are having babies later in life. In the United States, about 1 in 5 women now has her first child after age 35. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy after 35, good prenatal care and regular checkups can help you increase your chances of having a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. An experienced care team, like the one at Ochsner, can also help you understand your risks and support you every step of the way.

Having a baby after age 35 increases your risks for:

Miscarriage or ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
Complications, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placenta abruption and placenta previa
Conceiving a baby with a chromosomal problem
Having a premature delivery or a low birthweight baby
Having a cesarean section

Ask your doctor for more information.

By combining perinatal expertise and experience with sophisticated technology, patients on the Gulf Coast can receive comprehensive, high-risk pregnancy care from Ochsner Health without traveling to New Orleans.

At Ochsner Specialty Health Center – Cedar Lake, certified, specially trained maternal fetal medicine ultrasound technicians perform comprehensive fetal ultrasound evaluations to examine the growth and development of the fetus. The images are then read by Ochsner perinatologists, either in person or via virtual physician-to-patient ultrasounds.

During an Ochsner virtual “telemedicine” visit, the fetal anatomy scan is reviewed live through a secure feed and remote monitoring technology. Two-way audio/video capability allows the off-site perinatologists to interact and collaborate with the ultrasound technician and the patient to discuss any findings and make any important decisions.

Additional services include prematurity evaluation, medical complications such as diabetes, first trimester nuchal translucency assessment, genetic amniocentesis and prenatal genetic counseling.

Patients requiring more complex procedures are referred to Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans.

Ochsner offers a variety of prenatal genetic studies that allow doctors to diagnose a number of conditions that lead to high-risk pregnancies, including:

Cystic fibrosis
Down syndrome
Hemophilia
Muscular dystrophy
Sickle cell anemia
Spina bifida
Tay-Sachs disease
Trisomy 13
Trisomy 18
Trisomy 21

Couples who choose to have these studies often benefit from genetic counseling. Ochsner's compassionate, knowledgeable team is ready to answer your questions.

Find out more

A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a highly specialized center for premature and special needs newborns and infants. Everyone on the Ochsner staff is dedicated to the health and well-being of your baby. Partnering with Ochsner colleagues in general and high-risk obstetrics, Ochsner's neonatologists optimize the outcome of each pregnancy.

Learn more about the NICU services available at Ochsner

Having a high-risk pregnancy can be tough emotionally as well as financially. Brent House Hotel, connected to Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway, can help reduce the financial burden. Families treated at Ochsner Baptist can also stay at the Alder Hotel.

Ochsner Health continues to be recognized nationally for excellence in care. Several Ochsner birthing facilities have also earned the Birth Ready and Birth Ready+ Designations and Gift and Gift+ Designations from the Louisiana Department of Health, recognizing our commitment to science-based care that promotes dignified, equitable and safe birth for all. Many birthing facilities have also earned a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of A.