Fetal medicine unit
Our fetal medicine unit’s run at The Royal Free Hospital and Barnet Hospital and consists of a specialist team made up of fetal medicine consultants and specialist midwives. We offer pregnancy care when there is a concern for the unborn baby.
Our fetal medicine unit diagnoses and manages:
- Chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down's syndrome
- Invasive testing such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS)/amniocentesis
- Genetic conditions and genetic syndromes
- Structural fetal defects
- Fetal conditions requiring surgical follow-up after birth
- Detection of fetal cardiac anomalies
- Fetal growth restriction with the use of ultrasound doppler examination
- Twin and higher multiple pregnancies
- Non-invasive prenatal testing for women with a higher chance screening result
- Pregnancies affected by red cell antibody incompatibility
When appropriate you may be referred to our tertiary Fetal Medicine or Fetal Cardiac Centre.
At the Royal Free Hospital, the Fetal Medicine Unit is on the fifth floor and at Barnet Hospital the Fetal Medicine Clinic is Level 2 Wellhouse Women’s Centre.
If your Midwife refers you to the Fetal Medicine Unit, the Fetal Medicine Midwife will triage it. If you meet the criteria, you will be offered an appointment.
If you are asked to attend the fetal medicine unit you will be scanned by one of our fetal medicine consultants using the latest ultrasound equipment. You and your family will be counselled prior to the appointment and any findings will be discussed with you in detail. We will also help make a clear plan for your future pregnancy care.