Perinatal Center
The Perinatal Center provides personalized services and support for women
diagnosed with high-risk pregnancies.
The Perinatal Center is a prenatal diagnostic facility established to provide
services for patients with maternal or fetal complications. Our staff
provides personalized attention in a patient-friendly setting. Working
closely with your primary Obstetric provider, our highly-skilled specialists
offer comprehensive obstetrical ultrasound examinations, consultations
in prenatal diagnosis, amniocentesis and antepartum testing.
Our team consists of a Perinatologist (a physician who specializes in
high-risk pregnancies) and an experienced Labor & Delivery nurse.
They work closely with the patient’s primary obstetric provider
to develop individualized care management plans that fit mom’s health
history and needs.
A pregnancy may be considered high-risk for various reasons, including:
- Advanced maternal age
- Medical History
- Underlying conditions (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure)
- Multiple pregnancies
Why do I need special fetal testing?
Special testing allows your doctor or midwife to monitor your pregnancy
more closely. It’s done in a wide variety of situations –
any time the medical team wants more information. Your doctor or midwife
will explain why testing is recommended for you. Fetal testing is commonly
done in situations such as these:
- If you have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes
- If you have a pregnancy-related condition such as preeclampsia
- If you had a problem in an earlier pregnancy. A previous preterm birth
or a stillbirth may also warrant additional fetal testing.
- When signs or other tests findings raise questions. For example, your baby
may be moving less than normal, or may seem to smaller than expected.
A previous ultrasound may have shown that your baby has an abnormality
or that there is too much or too little fluid inside the amniotic sac.
- If you are pregnancy with more than one baby. Multiple gestation pregnancies
have a higher chance of problems than other pregnancies.
- If your pregnancy has lasted longer than 40 weeks. Multiple gestation pregnancies
have a higher chance of problems than other pregnancies.
- If the sac around the fetus has ruptured (premature rupture of membranes,
or PPROM). PPROM carries risks to the fetus and testing can help detect
a problem.
What do the tests tell us?
Different tests give different information. Generally, these tests give
information about your baby’s health, which is then used to guide
decisions about your care and the baby’s delivery. Note that unlike
other ultrasound tests, these tests are not used to diagnose abnormalities.
When the tests suggest that the baby is going well, the findings are called
“reassuring.” Reassuring findings are common, and they usually
mean that your care and pregnancy can continue as before. At other times,
the testing can suggest that your care should change or your baby should
be delivered. Occasionally, further testing is recommended.
The medical staff doing the testing will share any findings with you and
your doctor or midwife.
Perinatal Center Tests and Diagnostics include:
We also provide services for multi-gestation pregnancy (pregnancy with
more than one child).
Referrals and Appointments
Please have your Primary Care Physician or Obstetrician refer you for an
appointment. For more information, please call scheduling at 714.999.3847
or Labor & Delivery at 714.999.6031.
Why choose AHMC Anaheim Regional Medical Center for Maternity Services?